Alicudi is the less populated of the Aeolian Islands (252 inhabitants) and is also less visited by the major tourist routes. Its ancient name, Ericusa, comes from the numerous heathers, which can, still today, be found in the wild. The island has a circular shape and is dominated by a now extinct volcano. No volcanic activity has shaken the ground of this island for many years.
The western side of the island is uninhabited and not easy to reach. The spectacular sight of the steep cliffs and the lava stratifications can be observed on a boat ride around the island.
Close to the harbor, excavations have unearthed the remains of a so-called Capo Graziano village dating back to the XVII-XVIII century B.C.
Most of the island’s population is settled on the east side where we can admire the typical houses, whose colors and shapes are representatives of the archipelago’s constructions, dispersed amongst cultivations in terraces.