Panarea

Panarea belongs with its neighboring islands of Lipari, Stromboli, Vulcano, Salina, Filicudi and Alicudi to the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands, which lie in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily.

It belongs to the municipality of Lipari in the province of Messina.

Geography

Panarea has an area of 3.4 km ² and a population of 241 (as of the 2001 census ) .. It is the smallest and oldest volcanic formation of the archipelago.

Along with the neighboring, uninhabited island Basiluzzo and the cliffs Spinazzola, Lisca Nera, Lisca Bianca, Bottaro Dattilo and off the east coast of Panarea forms its own small archipelago with common volcanic origin.

The highest elevation of the island is Punta del Corvo in the northwestern part with an altitude of 421 m. In the southeast of the island of Capo Milazzese is.

The three villages of San Pietro, Ditella and Drauto whose boundaries now smoothly across the screen, located on the east coast. From the port of San Pietro ferries and hydrofoils to Messina, Milazzo and the other Aeolian Islands.

History

Archaeological findings prove that starting around 1400 BC people settled on Panarea, operated the trade with Sicily. Burn marks indicate that this settlement was abruptly and probably destroyed by force.

In ancient times the island was called due to the rich fauna and flora Eunonymus (Island of the good sign).

In the 16th century, the corsair Turgut Reis was looking for (also known as Dragut ) repeatedly shelter on the east coast Panarea. The place name Drauto is returned to it.

Tourism

Tourism is the main source of income of the islanders. In addition to the day-trippers during the summer months Panarea is considered summer meeting of wealthy Italians. The most beautiful beach is located in the southeast of Cala di Junco. More swimming at sand and gravel beaches are partly only accessible from the water.

Cultural attractions are the excavations of a Bronze Age village on Capo Milazzese. The settlement consisted of about 50 circular buildings and a rectangular building, which probably served as a meeting room. Get the foundations of 23 rondavels and millstones, cookware and ceramic vases.

On the Isola di Basiluzzo that was popular summer resort of the Romans in ancient times, are the remains of a Roman villa, floor mosaics and wall paintings. Three meters below the water table are the remains of a jetty and a thermal bath.