Lipari — Rocche Rosse and Monte Pilato
Above Acquacalda lies a flow of black, glassy obsidian, still since the Middle Ages. The trail skirts it and climbs to the crater it poured from: you walk on volcanic glass and white pumice.
- Difficulty
- Facile-medio
- Duration
- 2:30 h round trip
- Elevation gain
- 470 m
- Altitude
- 476 m
- Season
- All year
The route
Start from Acquacalda, climb along the flank of the flow to the crater rim of Monte Pilato (476 m), today a hollow filled with pumice. A loop is possible descending towards Porticello.
Watch the ground
Obsidian is as sharp as glass: you look at it, you don't scramble over it, and you keep your hands free. The pumice underfoot is unstable on the descent — poles help.
One tip
Go in late afternoon: the low light makes the obsidian front gleam, and the contrast with the white pumice is the best photograph you'll bring home from the Aeolians.
Stay in Capo d'Orlando
A base in the centre — and everything else becomes a day trip.
The port for the Aeolians is 45 minutes away, the Nebrodi right behind. Breakfast served early for dawn departures.
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