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| Ultimate Italy / Islands
/ Valcano |
| Vulcano Island |
 If
you’ve read Roman mythology you’ll be familiar with Thermessa
or Vulcano. It was the abode of Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire, and
also the entrance to Hades. It is a volcanic island and Thucydides,
Siculus and Aristotle have recorded eruptions. There are three volcanoes
on the island, of which only one is active. Although the Gran Cratere
or the Big Crater hasn’t erupted since 1890, it is the biggest
attraction on the island. You can climb up to its peak that is 418m
high. It is relatively easy and will take you just over an hour to
climb. The other two volcanoes are Vulcano Piano and Vulcanello. There
weren’t any inhabitants on the island in ancient times. The
Romans had a small colony but the fear of the volcano and the destruction
caused by it eruption kept away any development. The Bourbon rulers
converted the rich soil of the island to farmlands. Later efforts
were made to bring wine production to the island but volcanic eruptions
again came in the way of progress. Today, the Gran Cratere is a dormant
volcano and the island of Vulcano is a popular tourist destination
with local and international travelers, with those who can afford
it buying villas here. The island is also popular for its sulphuric
thermal baths and many people come here to relieve stress and cure
ailments. The other major attraction is the island’s many black
sandy beaches that are considered the in the Aeolians. |
| Getting there |
| Not too far away from the Sicilian mainland, Vulcano can be reached
by ferries and hydrofoils. As you come towards the island, you might
find the smell of sulphur overwhelming. But you will get used to the
smell quickly. |
| Getting
Around |
Bus:
The local buses, Scaffidi, are privately owned, managed and run.
They start from the port area and go up to the southwestern village
of Piano or to the southern village of Gelso. These buses run seven
days a week. There are seven departures each day from Monday to
Saturday and two on Sundays.
Bikes:
The most popular way to get around the island is on a bike or motor
scooter. You can rent these according to your needs from Da Paolo
on Via Porto Levante. They are open seven adys a week from May till
November and operate from 8 in the morning until 8:30 in the evening.
Mountain bikes cost 3€ to 5€ for a day, while scooters
cost 10€ to 35€ a day. The best way to explore the island,
however, is on foot. |
| Tourist
information |
The local tourist office is on Via Porto di Levante. It is open
only from June till September between 8am to 10:30pm, breaking for
lunch between 2 and 4:30pm. |
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