Are the Aeolian Islands the birthplace of winds? Not exactly, Aeolian Islands are a
group of islands named after
Aeolus, the ancient Greek demigod of winds. According to one of the legends linked to the name Aeolus, he lived on a
floating island of Aeolia and provided hospitality to mythical traveler
Odysseus and his crew. At their parting Aeolus provided them a
favorable west wind to take them home to Ithaca. He also provided a gift of a bag containing
all winds but the west, which Odysseus's crew members unwittingly opened just before they were to reach their home… But that’s another story. Let’s get back to
reality.
The Aeolian Islands or
Isole Eolie in Italian language refers to the
group of islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily. The archipelago consists of islands
Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea and Basiluzzo. This group of islands is also known as the
Lipari Islands.
[caption id="attachment_5921" align="alignnone" width="2480"]

Stromboli, Aeolian Islands[/caption]
The shape of these islands as we know them is created as the result of
volcanic activities over a period of some 260.000 years. The
two still active volcanoes are at island
Stromboli and, guess what,
Vulcano. The Aeolian Islands nowadays refer to a popular tourist destination where over
200.000 tourists arrive every year. Their characteristic volcanic landscapes earned them a place on
UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2000.
However, this
Mediterranean archipelago also refers to a very popular sailing destination since this part of the Mediterranean is lacking the islands. The fact that there are seven of Aeolian Islands makes them perfect for
one-week sailing cruise while 14-days sailing itinerary would include Amalfi Coast and Sicily as well.
Prevailing
winds at the Aeolian Islands are
from west and northwest while less frequent wind f
rom the southeast arrives in strong irregular gust, generally
followed by storms that come and go pretty quickly. The
currents between the islands are generally influenced by prevailing winds and can be
particularly strong between Alicudi and Filicudi. The other strong current appears south of island Vulcano, where it runs east or west with the predominant wind.
Sailing the Aeolic Islands is
exciting and interesting due to their specific landscapes while there are lots of
hazardous shoals and partially submerged rocks as well as protected coves. The entire area is famous for
crystal-clear turquoise waters and
mild climate while the atmospheres of the old towns are full of vibrant life going on.
So visit
A Yacht Charter Italy and find out more about the wonderful italian coast, the type of boats available for charter and where to spend your sailing holiday.
I wish you a calm sea, a fine wind and a strong mast!