About Panarea

Panarea, the antique Eunonimo, is a most scenographic island; one of the most enchanting of the Archipelago. The island, the small islands (Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Lisca Bianca) and the islets (Bottaro, Lisca Nera, Panarelli and Le Formiche) are to be considered parts of the same volcanic system; they represent the remains of eruptive centres implanted in the same morphological unit constituted by a volcanic underwater upland.

The formation of the island, the most ancient of the Aeolian Archipelago is attributed to the Sicilian by Keller and to the Milazzese by Pichler. A stratum volcano, the eastern part of which is left, is implanted on the part above the waters, while secondary eruptive centres in the form of cupolas of stagnation have subsequently formed along the sides.

The highest peak of Panarea is called Pizzo del Corvo (420 m), which descends to the East with terraces cultivated with corn and surrounded by gigantic olive trees. This side is dominated by the inaccessible rocky coasts of Pizzo Falcone and Pizzo Castello. To the West the slopes are like harsh attachments and rocky walls dotted with green. This island is composed of a great mass of andesites which are superimposed on the "rioliti colonnari" visible at the Northern extremity known as Calcara and on that of the South called Milazzese. The bult-up area is scattered picturesquely on the Eastern slopes with its white houses surrounded by olive trees and cyclopic cliffs. The homes are grouped in three districts which bear the names respectively of Iditella, S. Pietro and Drauto. The principal importance of Panarea is from the Paleontological point of view due to its well known village of the XIV century B.C.

The archeological importance of Basiluzzo is considerable. Throughout the entire island one sees vestiges of roman buildings in "opus reticulatum" with traces of mosaic floors and coloured decorations of walls. These also include a large semi-underground room next to the slope of access. A short distance from the landing stage, during good conditions of visibility, one sees, on the sea bed, a large ruin, probably a dock of the Roman times, today submerged by bradyseismic phenomena.

Also the enchanting group of rocks nearby and the islands of Lisca Bianca, Lisca Nera and Dattilo are worthy of visiting. These emerge imposingly with their characteristic pyramidal shape. To the extreme North of Panarea, in a valley called Calcara, the probable site of a volcanic building of prehistoric era, today one encounters fumarolic manifestations. In the rocks one notes excessive weathering. The ground is hot and lined by narrow fractures which run in all directions. Where they cross, the gas escapes in great quantities. A particular characteristic which lends a strange aspect to the area, is the multicoloured surface on the ground. In other parts of the island are to be seen traces of fumarolic action extinct from time immemorial. In the vicinity of the quay, situated in S. Pietro district, a hot spring (50° C.) gushes out and which is used by the inhabitants for therapeutic treatment with excellent results. Facing Panarea is the rock of Bottaro near which, in good weather, one sees a phenomenon caused by under water fumaroles. Numerous gas bubbles, released from the sea creating a gurgling sound, which constitutes the socalled "boiler".