ALICUDI Click on images to get large (35-100 kb) JPEG versions of these photographs!
Most remote and westernmost of the Aeolian Islands, Alicudi has retained much of the "savage" character that all of these islands once had. Rising steeply from the sea, the island does not offer much opportunity to build streets; thus there is only one leading from the port to the largest hotel on the island - its length may be at best 300 m. Everything else is stairs. The principal means of transport on Alicudi is donkeys.
The highest place on the island is 675 m-high Montagnola, with its neighboring peak Filo dell'Arpa (662 m).
Geologically, Alicudi is one of the oldest of the Aeolian Islands. Its volcano last produced a cluster of lava domes within a small summit caldera both of which are visible in the image. Photo taken on 30 August 1994.
Significantly more complex than Alicudi, Filicudi has several small villages, a street network, and more varied volcanic centers. The highest point is Monte Fossa delle Felci (named identically as Salina's highest peak) reaching 774 m. It is the high peak visible slightly off the center to the right. Important secondary volcanic centers are Montagnola (got it? This name is used frequently as well in the Eolie) and Capo Graziano. The youngest of these features is the dacitic lava dome cluster of Montagnola (visible behind left slope of Monte Fossa delle Felci), probably extruded some 35,000 years ago. Photo taken 30 August 1994.
Salina, the second largest of the Isole Eolie, is seen here from the southwest, from the aliscafo (hydrofoil) connecting Lipari with Filicudi/Alicudi. The notably regular peak in the center is Monte dei Porri (860 m), superseded in height by Monte Fossa delle Felci (962 m) to the right: this is the highest mountain of the archipelago. On the left-hand slope of Monte dei Porri there is the vast amphitheater-shaped crater of Pollara, site of a violent very late Quaternary eruption (maybe 13,000 BP). The western (left) half of this crater lies below the sea. One of the most suggestive places in the Eolie, Pollara has its most amazing spot in Punta Perciato, an impressive natural arc that forms the westernmost tip of the island and is well visible in the enlarged version of this image. Distant neighbor, Stromboli island lies on left margin of the photograph. Photo taken 30 August 1994.
Another image of Salina, this time viewed from the southeast. Monte Fossa delle Felci is the cone with its top in the clouds, and Monte dei Porri to the left. The much older volcanic edifice of Monte Rivi lies on the northern (right) flank of Monte Fossa delle Felci. Town of S. Marina di Salina lies on right side of the island while Rinella forms the cluster of white houses on the near flank of Monte dei Porri. Photo taken 30 August 1994.
Vulcano, the southernmost island of the Eolie, has given name to all volcanoes in the world. Site of spectacular activity in the Ancient times and through the 19th century, the crater visible in this photo (Gran Cratere or Fossa Grande) has last erupted in 1888-1890. The long repose period since then and the charm of the place has allowed the rapid development of a settlement, merely a cluster of small houses thirty years ago, now an ever-growing accumulation of villas and hotels. Second to Vesuvio, this is Italy's most dangerous volcano due to the presence of this community in a more-than-irrational proximity to the crater.
The Gran Cratere is filling the foreground of this image; behind (and slightly to the right) lies the peninsula of Vulcanello, formed only during the past <2500 years; in the central background is the complex island of Lipari with its Monte S. Angelo forming what appears to be the highest point (although that is Monte Chirica, at 602 m). The twinned cones of Salina's Monte dei Porri (left) and Monte Fossa delle Felci form the left skyline. Image was taken from below the highest part of Gran Cratere (391 m) on 18 April 1995.
Vulcano is seen here from the northwest, with the steaming Gran Cratere in the center and Vulcanello visible to the left. The high peak on the right margin of the image is Monte Saraceno (481), a high part of the oldest, "Piano" stage of Vulcano complex. The photo was taken on 28 August 1991.
As mentioned above, the village of Vulcano Porto lies immediately below the Gran Cratere. This is dramatically illustrated in this photo (of March 1992) taken from the steaming crater rim and looking down on the houses of the village and the harbor of Porto Levante (right). The conspicious rocky feature visible in the right part of the photo is the "Faraglione", an eroded remainder of a small volcanic cone.
This enchanting view is from the Chiesetta di San Bartolo on Alicudi and shows, from left to right, the neighboring islands of Filicudi, Salina, and Lipari. From other vantage points, also Stromboli and Vulcano could be perfectly seen, while Panarea was not visible because it lies in line behind Salina. Taken on the afternoon of 30 August 1994.
More images as I get them scanned -- I apologize that they are still in b/w but at least I can thus present more detail using less electronic space!!!
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FILICUDI 
SALINA 
SALINA 
VULCANO, GRAN CRATERE 
VULCANO 
VULCANO 
FILICUDI, SALINA AND LIPARI