Five square kilometers, no cars and rare silence: this Italian island is the perfect summer vacation retreat.
Summer vacations are approaching, and the question comes up every year: how to avoid crowded beaches without giving up the Mediterranean sun? A small, almost confidential Italian island offers an unexpected answer to those who dream of calm and crystal-clear seas.
An island that turns its back on mass tourism during the summer vacations
From early July onwards, the crowds take over the major Mediterranean destinations. Beaches fill up, roads become saturated, and tranquility becomes a rare luxury. Yet some travelers have found an alternative that ticks all the boxes.
One address in Italy stands out for its spectacular scenery and crystal-clear sea. What’s more, it offers something that few destinations can yet promise at the height of the season: silence.
At just five square kilometers, this is one of the smallest islands in the Aeolian archipelago. And yet, with its cliffs, pebble beaches and fishing ports, there’s more than enough to fill several days of your summer vacation.
No cars, no horns: a rare kind of calm
There are no cars on the island. Instead, you walk from one hamlet to the next, along little paths that link the colorful houses. This seemingly insignificant detail makes all the difference to your summer vacation.
No one is honking, no one is looking for a parking space. So, even in the middle of August, there are still places where all you can hear is the sound of the waves. It’s precisely for this reason that the island has earned the nickname“Island of Silence”.
“Even in the middle of summer, you can still find corners where all you can hear is the sea.”
Alicudi: the westernmost of the Aeolian Islands
The island is Alicudi, off the north coast of Sicily. It is the westernmost of the Aeolian archipelago and lies some 65 kilometers off the Sicilian coast.
From France, fly to Catania or Palermo, then continue the journey by ferry, usually from Milazzo. It takes several hours to reach this volcanic land in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The island has nothing in common with the usual summer vacation destinations. There’s no need to look for big hotels or beaches covered with umbrellas lined up to the millimetre. On the other hand, the paths that climb to the heights are full of surprises.
- Area: five square kilometers, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago
- Located about 65 kilometers off the coast of Sicily, in the Tyrrhenian Sea
- No cars on the island: all journeys are made on foot
- Only two grocery stores and a few local restaurants
- A 675-metre-high summit with views of the Aeolian Islands
Trails, chapels and an exceptional panorama
Along the paths that climb to the heights, you’ll come across several churches and chapels nestled in the hills. The island is also dotted with colorful houses and little paths linking its various hamlets.
The most courageous can push on to the summit, which rises to an altitude of 675 metres. It’s true that the climb is hard on the calves, but the view over the Tyrrhenian Sea and the other Aeolian islands is one of the archipelago’s finest.
Make sure you have good shoes before you set off. Trails are the only way to get around, and the gradients are real.
What we eat, what we see: everyday life on the Isle of Silence
On the food front, two grocery stores and a few local restaurants offer a taste of the island’s specialties. The selection is deliberately limited, which contributes to the special atmosphere of this place during the summer season.
Summer vacations take on a different meaning here. You slow down, you observe, you walk. What’s more, with no cars or roads, the atmosphere is more like that of a fishing village than a classic tourist destination.
At a time when some Mediterranean destinations are welcoming thousands of visitors every day, Alicudi is an exception. So, for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the big beaches this summer, this volcanic island lost in the Tyrrhenian Sea is well worth a visit.
Summer vacations can also be synonymous with silence, paths and open horizons. This confidential address proves it, provided you’re prepared to walk a little to get there.
