The island of Vulcano, one of the seven islands that make up the Aeolian archipelago, brings with it an ancient and layered history. In Greek times it was known as Therasia, then as Hiera, the name with which it was consecrated to the god of fire. According to mythology, this land was the forge of Hephaestus – for the Romans, Vulcan – the blacksmith of the gods who worked in the bowels of the earth. It is not difficult to understand why the ancients attributed divine origins to the phenomena of this island: fumaroles, boiling waters and sulfur deposits make it a place out of the ordinary. Administratively part of the municipality of Lipari, Vulcano extends over an area of approximately 21 square kilometers and is, in all respects, a volcano.
View this post on Instagram
The volcanic landscape
The Great Crater dominates the profile of the island and determines its visual character. The black slopes, sulfur deposits and active fumaroles create an environment reminiscent of extraterrestrial surfaces. It is in this context that the free spas are found: natural pools surrounded by rock formations and mineral sediments, overlooking the crystalline sea of the Aeolian Islands. The contrast between the blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the black of the volcanic earth is one of the most characteristic elements of the landscape.
The properties of thermal waters
The waters of the Terme di Vulcano are sulphurous, salty-bromine-iodic and slightly radioactive. The temperature at the source fluctuates between 40 and 80 degrees centigrade. The mineral composition, rich in sulphur, magnesium and calcium, makes these waters suitable for various conditions: joint and rheumatic pain, skin conditions and respiratory problems. Mud therapy, obtained from the deposits that the waters themselves produce, finds application in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatism, strains and fractures. Sulfur vapors have recognized effects on the respiratory tract.
View this post on Instagram
The three areas of the free spa
The thermal area is divided into three distinct areas: the mud pool, the warm sea and the fumaroles. There are five tanks, all fed by the same source. Four are located close together and the water maintains higher temperatures there, given the short distance from the source. The fifth, larger and about fifty meters away, is powered by an ancient aqueduct and has slightly lower temperatures, around twenty-five degrees. Until a few years ago, access was completely free; today there is a small fee for entry, with opening from mid-April to mid-September.
View this post on Instagram
How to visit the spa
From the island’s port a short walk leads directly to the thermal pools. For access it is useful to bring an old bathing suit, slippers and sunscreen, keeping in mind that the sulphurous waters tend to stain fabrics. It is advisable to limit immersion to no more than twenty or thirty minutes at a time, with breaks between one bath and another. After exiting the water, the skin may show a slight redness, a temporary effect of the purifying action of the minerals.
How to reach Vulcano
The island is connected to the mainland by ferry with departures from Milazzo, Messina and Reggio Calabria, or by hydrofoil from Naples. Once at your destination, the spa is just a few minutes walk from the port.
