Stromboli: Europe's Lighthouse of the Mediterranean
Stromboli, known as the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean," has been erupting continuously for at least 2,000 years, making it one of the world's most active volcanoes. Every 15-20 minutes, explosions from its summit craters send incandescent rock hundreds of meters into the air, providing a dependable spectacle that has guided sailors through these waters since antiquity.
Stromboli reaches 924 metres above sea level, yet its foundation lies 2,000 metres beneath the seas, forming a gigantic volcanic edifice. The island's 500 occupants live in remarkably close proximity to constant volcanic activity, with whitewashed dwellings sliding down slopes just a few kilometres from the active craters. The volcano's behaviour is so distinct that volcanologists all around the world use the term "Strombolian eruption" to describe this type of mild, repetitive explosive activity.
To reach the peak, take a three-hour guided walk (required since 2005 due to fatal tourist incidents), which begins in the late afternoon. As evening falls, the eruptions become more obvious, with streams of molten lava creating orange arcs against the night sky. The descent along the volcano's spine, known locally as the Sciara del Fuoco (Stream of Fire), provides front-row seats to nature's most impressive fireworks display. For those who are not up for the climb, nightly boat trips circle the island, affording safe views of lava meeting the sea in explosive bursts of steam.
