SICILY ON A YACHT: 5 islands where volcanoes smoke
Sicily. Yacht trip on volcanic islands
The voyage to the volcanic islands near Sicily was organized by SKY-YACHTING. RU. The video version of the trip can be viewed on the official website of the company www. sky yachting. en
We chose the city of Catania, which is located at the foot of Mount Etna, as the starting point of the trip. This is the best place in the area where you can rent a car to go to conquer the volcano. The Rifugio Sapienza site at an altitude of 1900 meters can be reached by car, then everyone transfers to the funicular, which goes up to the mark of 2500 meters. You can drive another 500 meters up on a special bus, and then only on foot. The main thing you need to be prepared for is a change in temperature. It is quite cold and windy at the top, so even if the day is very hot, you should take a jacket and closed shoes with you.
The scenery above is simply Martian.
Here it is just right to shoot fantastic films: the crater smokes, there is no vegetation, stones of bizarre shape are scattered everywhere, the wind carries black volcanic sand. We stayed on the volcano for about an hour, after which we went to our first port - Portorosa. On the way, we stopped for lunch at the Murgo winery, bought groceries for the journey and drove onto the A-18 motorway, which passes Taormina, the Giardini Naxos resort, and the Etnaland amusement park. And, of course, we admired the picturesque Strait of Messina all the way.
This is a cozy marina, from where yacht routes often start towards the Aeolian Islands and the nearest island to Sicily, Vulcano. Up to 700 boats can moor here at the same time, but during the season there may not be enough space. It was in this port that we rented our yacht, and here we will have to return at the very end of our journey. In addition, Europcar car rental is available in Portorosa.
Booking a car on his Italian page is cheaper than on the Russian one. There is also a beach in the marina, however, no one stays here for a long time.
Vulcano Island
We reached our first stop, the island of Vulcano, only in the evening. There was already a full house of yachts: absolutely everything was occupied at the anchorage (it's understandable, it's free), so we had to get up at the pier for money. The cost of such parking is about 70 euros per team, but you can go ashore at any time without using a dinghy (note by the editors “dinga” is a small inflatable boat).
Vulcano is a small volcanic island with black sand beaches and fantastic landscapes. Several of its volcanoes have long been silent, but one is still considered active. To look at it, you need to spend about five hours (unfortunately, cars do not go there).
Therefore, we weighed everything, gave up the idea of storming another volcano and went to see the mud baths and fumaroles, which are located just 15 minutes on foot from the marina a poisonous yellow coating is formed). It is on these fumaroles that European pensioners like to sit and warm their bones, although the smell next to them is simply terrible.
The main attractions of the island are the mud baths where you can swim, and the Acque calde beach with underwater fumaroles, so the sea in some places seethes like a jacuzzi. That is why you need to go into the water very carefully and only in beach slippers, otherwise you can burn your feet. Feeling like a bee sting - not fatal, but unpleasant.
A 15-minute walk from Acque calde is the usual Ponente beach with black volcanic sand - the best beach in the Aeolian Islands.
Keep in mind that after local mud baths, the body smells of hydrogen sulfide for several days, and clothes absorb the smell so much that you can only get rid of it after several washes. Next to the "bath" there is a shower, which can be used for 2 euros.
Lipari Island
We went to Lipari the next day. The sea this time was as calm as the day before. Therefore, it was possible to have fun in full: we rode on a dinghy tied to the stern and on mooring lines (editor's note “hemp or wire rope”) under the motor of the yacht. We managed to arrive at the marina early, so we managed to get a place in the parking lot.
Among the islands of the archipelago, Lipari occupies a central place. In addition, a small town of the same name is located on it, which is best reached from the marina by a shuttle bus.
Although the distance is short, about three kilometers, the road here is narrow and passes through the mountains, so walking along it is not at all safe. The capital of the archipelago is a small, very picturesque and very sleepy city, where it is difficult to find an open shop after a siesta. An ancient fortress wall stretches around the old quarter. If you walk along it, you can walk to the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew - the patron saint of these places. Near the temple there is a panoramic platform, from where the surroundings are wonderfully visible.
There are many cats on the island, and in some places there are even signs “These meowing persons are fashion models, and if you photograph them, then please, help the poor things to live! »
Stromboli Island
The next day, our path lay on the island of Stromboli - an active volcano that erupts at intervals of about 10-20 minutes.
Along the way, there are small rocky islands, next to which you can anchor. The main thing is not to miss the rock Lisca Bianca during this transition, which is next to the island of Panarea. Near it you can swim among the underwater hydrogen sulfide geysers and catch fish by trolling (Editor's note trolling - catching fish from a moving boat or boat). True, we never managed to catch a single fish either this time or before.
Here it must be said right away that the last excursion to the famous volcano starts at 19.00. You have to climb for two hours, they won't let you get closer than 300 meters to the lava: it's very dangerous. But those who take the risk are given special equipment - helmets, lanterns and khanvagi (boots). Therefore, if you really want to see Stromboli in action, you need to lay two days to stop on this island.
Unfortunately, we got here only at sunset, so we had to forget about the extreme excursion.
However, it was also possible to admire the bright reflections from the lava eruptions from the yacht, but in the place where the eruptions are best seen, it is forbidden to approach closer than 200 meters to the shore. On the shore we had dinner in a local trattoria and a walk along the narrow streets of the old city.
There is a place on Stromboli - Sciara del Fuoco - a closed area that covers almost half of the island. It is here that ash falls, volcanic bombs and lava flows.
Salina Island
Our next stop was Salina Island. We booked dinner there at the lighthouse, which houses the Capofaro Hotel and the restaurant of the same name. The menu includes seafood dishes, they are served with red and white wines. After dinner, we went for a walk along the island's promenade. There are no special sights on Salina - only two extinct volcanoes, long overgrown with greenery. We did not go to the volcanoes, we limited ourselves to a luxurious dinner.
Salina Island is famous for the production of Malvasia, a sweet wine.
Port of Milazzio
On the seventh day of our trip - on Friday - we returned to Sicily and stopped in the port city of Milazcio. The marina here is very comfortable, there are many inexpensive and very good restaurants, but there is no entertainment. During the day, if you have time, it’s worth devoting two hours to the city: climbing the panoramic platform, walking around the historical center, looking into the 10th century cathedral and the 13th century fortress. In the Middle Ages, the Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards, French ruled here, so the local architecture is very peculiar.
From Milazzio, a stone's throw from Messina. Locals claim that it was in this place that Odysseus landed and met with the Cyclopes.
The next day we returned to Portorosa, handed over the yacht, changed to cars and drove through Taormina back to Catania.
From there, it is within easy reach of Syracuse, so we left the last day of travel for this ancient city. It stands on the shore of a quiet bay near Mount Etna. Its main attractions are a large Archaeological Park with a Greek amphitheater and an eavesdropping cave "Ear of Dionysius", as well as the modern Church of the Weeping Madonna, built in an unusual shape for a temple of a citrus juicer, the Jewish quarter and, of course, a colorful market. In the market, you can see all kinds of live marine reptiles and mollusks running away from sellers - an incredibly picturesque sight.
WHAT TO TAKE ON BOARD
In the off-season: thermal underwear, warm suits, warm socks, moccasins or ankle boots (required with light soles), a trigger, a windbreaker.
In the warm season: shorts, light pants, shirts, skirts, T-shirts and swimwear, baseball caps and bandanas, sunglasses, sun cream and spray with various degrees of protection.
Additionally: gloves with “fingers”, since you will have to work a lot with your hands, a waterproof suit, special shoes that can withstand exposure to sea water, dry quickly, slip less and leave no marks on the deck, and a bag for things (there is no place for suitcases on the yacht , and things are laid out on lockers and shelves).
We are looking forward to our new friends on board! See you again on the volcanic islands in 2013 in sunny Sicily! www. sky yachting. en
