Eolian Islands, Italy

The Liparian Islands (also called Eolian Islands) lie in the north of Sicily. They are all of volcanic origin. The island Stromboli with the always active volcano is the northernmost island of this archipel and very fascinating. We visited these islands in October 1996 and 1997. I was always interested in volcanos but since that time I fell in love with them. Climbing up an active volcano and observing the eruptions at night is a unique and fascinating experience.

Sun Dogs — Fig. 1: Sun with sun dogs, a reflection of the sunlight on ice crystals in the atmosphere — Minolta SRT-101, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Church on Lipari — Fig. 2: A church in the harbour of Lipary. The island which has the same name than the capital is the biggest of the Eolian Islands. — Minolta SRT-101, October 1996

Tankship — Fig. 3: A tankship in backlight. Because many of the Eolian Islands don't have much rain and spring water they get water from these ships. According to sayings this job is done for free by the Mafia. — Minolta SRT-101, October 1996

Ruins on Stromboli — Fig. 4: A ruin in the village San Vincenzo on Stromboli — Minolta SRT-101, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Smoking Stromboli Volcano — Fig. 5: After an almost fife hour ascension one gehts this phantastic view to the smoking craters. — Minolta SRT-101, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Stromboli Eruption — Fig. 6: Long expore of the craters. Unfortunately there weren't much eruptions this time. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Stromboli Beach — Fig. 7: Also bad weather can be pretty on the shore of a sea. This is on the beach of the island Stromboli. The rock in the background with the lighthouse is Strombolicchio, the core an old volcano. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Chair on Beach — Fig. 8: Someone made an artwork of an old chair. Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Stromboli Beach — Fig. 9: Stromboli's beach with waves. The rock in the background is the funnel of an old volcano. The outer parts have been eroded during the years. Only the hard core has survived. Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Dog on Vulcano's Beach — Fig. 10: A dog following a trail on the beach of the island Vulcano. In the background a ferry from Siremar is approaching. Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Stromboli, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Vulcano Harbour — Fig. 11: The litthe harbout of the island Vulcano. A week before a big storm blowed over the Mediterranean Sea and destroyed many ships in the harbours. In the harbour of Lipary we could sea many boats lying on the ground. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Siremar Ferry — Fig. 12: A ferry of Siremar on Vulcano's pier. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Palm Tree — Fig. 13: A palm tree in the bungalow residence on Volcano. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Steam Clouds on Vulcano — Fig. 14: Clouds of steam and hydrosulfide are evaporating on Vulcano's crater rim. It smells like foul eggs. This type of volcano is totally different than Stromboli on the neighbouring island. Stromboli always spits a bit lava and is rather harmles. Vulcano sleeps for centuries, increases the pressure until it explodes in a huge detonation. The last one was in 1888-1890. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Steam Clouds on Vulcano — Fig. 15: Steam with hydrosulfide is evaporating through the fumaroles on the crater of Vulcano. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Rock with Sulfur — Fig. 16: A rock with sulfur on the volcano Vulcano. In the 19th century convicts ad to mine the sulfur in the crater. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Bush on Ash Slope — Fig. 17: A bush on the ash slope of Vulcano. Above the bush the crescent of the moon is visible on the afternoon sky. Walking up the volcano takes about 30-45 minutes. For descending one can run down the ash slopes ... takes only five minutes.:-: — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Red Volcano — Fig. 18: The volcano Vulcano in it's pretty red colour in the late afternoon sunlight. — Minolta SRT-101, 2/50mm, Kodak Gold 400, Vulcano, Eolian Islands, October 1996

Sunrise behind Palm — Fig. 19: The rising Sun behind palm leaves on Stromboli. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Sunrise — Fig. 20: It' morning and the Sun is rising above the sea and casts a reflection on the neighbouring roof. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Stromboli Eruption with Moon — Fig. 21: Moon with lava eruption and smoke from Stromboli volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Stromboli Eruption with Moon — Fig. 22: Moon between the two eruptive craters of Stromboli. Note the pretty trails of glowing boulders rolling down the slope on the right. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Stromboli Eruption with Moon — Fig. 23: Setting moon crescent behind a high lava eruption of Stromboli volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Stromboli Eruption with Moon — Fig. 24: Setting moon crescent behind a high lava eruption of Stromboli volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

San Vincenzo — Fig. 25: The church of the village San Vincenzo on Stromboli. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Pink House — Fig. 26: A house on Stromboli with a pretty pink facade. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Dusk Mood — Fig. 27: Magic scenery in the dusk: A volcano eruption and a setting constellation of Antares, Mars, Venus and the Moon. The reed is illuminated with a fluorescent tube lamp. They moved with the wind and are therefore blurred. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Startrails with Volcano — Fig. 28: Star trails over stromboli volcano. The white dots are flashlights from tourists and the snaky line are peoply hiking down the slope. This image was shot from the pizzeria. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Light and Shadows — Fig. 29: Light beams and reflections on the water surface. Shot from the summit of Stromboli volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Smoking Volcano — Fig. 30: The smoking craters of the Stromboli volcano. Shot from the summit. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Stromboli pizzeria — Fig. 31: Looking back from the summit. The pizzaria is the white building on the left hand side and on the right is Strombolicchio, a remnant of an earlier volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Alicudi and Filicudi — Fig. 32: The neighbouring islands Alicudi and Filicudi in the mist as seen from the summit of Stromboli. — Minolta XD-7, Stromoli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Sunset — Fig. 33: Reflection of the setting sun on the quiet sea as seen from the summig of Stromboli volcano. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Sunset with Volcano — Fig. 34: What a romantic and peaceful sunset at Stromboli with a smoking dangerous volcano and reflection of the sunlight on the sea. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, 6. October 1997

Stromboli in Dusk — Fig. 35: This is my favourite picture from Stromboli. The rainbow colours of the dusk with an eruption of the volcano. On the top is the moon. The brightest three stars are from left to right: Antares in the Constellation Scorpio and the Planets Mars and Venus. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

San Bartolo — Fig. 36: The small village San Bartolo on Stromboli — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Strombolicchio — Fig. 37: Strombolicchio the core of an old volcano and a ship passing by. — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Butterfly — Fig. 38: Just a butterfly — Minolta XD-7, Stromboli, Italy, October 1997

Crater of Vulcano — Fig. 39: View from the top of the crater edge of Vulcano towards Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli on the right. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Crater of Vulcano — Fig. 40: Looking down to the village. On the other end of the island one can see Vulcanello, the little inactive volcano crater. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Ivan in Sulfur Steam — Fig. 41: Ivan kneeling in steam clouds of hydrosulfide, holding his breath for taking a picture. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Fumarole — Fig. 42: Water steam and hydrosulfide is evaporating from this fumarole on the volcano Vulcano — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Eruption Material — Fig. 43: Eruptive material from the last eruption in 1890. Sulfur coloured this rock yeallow. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Stromboli from Vulcano — Fig. 44: Holding my breath I took this picture of the island Panarea (left: and Stromboli (right: across the crater rim of Vulcano. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Hydrofoil — Fig. 45: A hydrofoil approaching the harbour of Vulcano — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Steaming Crater Edge — Fig. 46: Clouds of steam and hydrosulfide. The two islands on the horizon are Alicudi and Filicudi, the westernmost islands of the Lipari archipel. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Yellow Stone — Fig. 47: A stone, yellow from sulfur. This stone was thrown here in the last big eruption in 1890. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Vulcanello — Fig. 48: View from the inactive little volcano Vulcanello in the north towards the bay on the western part of the island. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

On Vulcanello — Fig. 49: On Vulcanello looking towards the street between Lipari and Vulcano. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Sulfur Rock — Fig. 50: The sulfur rock close to the harbour of Vulcano. A stinking rock of yellow and red sulfur. Here one can see the little inactive volcano Vulcanello which lies in the northern part of the island Vulcano. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Steam Springs — Fig. 51: The steam springs in the little bay right beside the sulfur rock. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Vulcanello and Lipari — Fig. 52: View from the summit of the big crater on Vulcano: Here one can see the neigbouring island Lipari and the northern part of Vulcano with the little volcano Vulcanello. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Yellow Crater Edge — Fig. 53: Yellow crater rim with steam clouds of evaporating water and hydrosulfide. The islands in the hazy background are Panarea (left: and Stromboli (right:. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Steaming Crater Edge — Fig. 54: Steam clouds on the crater rim of Vulcano. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Sunset — Fig. 55: Sunset from the top of the Volcano. On the right one can see two hikers walking up the crater slope. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Sunset behind Steam — Fig. 56: Sunset behind volcanic steam clouds. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Sunset — Fig. 57: Yeat another kitschy sunset picture, taken from the Vulcano crater. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Ferry — Fig. 58: A ferry from Siremar and a freight ship on the Mediterranean sea, somewhere between Vulcano and Milazzo. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Milazzo — Fig. 59: This is the city Milazzo in the north of Sicily. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Hydrofoil — Fig. 60: One of the hydrofoils entering the harbour of Milazzo. — Minolta XD-7, Vulcano, Italy, October 1997

Industry Zone Milazzo — Fig. 61: The industry zone near the harbour of Milazzo on Sicily. — Minolta XD-7, Sicily, Italy, October 1997