Ginostra...

The very fact that Ginostra exists makes Italy unique. A vacation in Ginostra is a life-changing experience.

Ginostra is a tiny village reminiscent of times past. Nestled against Stromboli, it is an “island within an island.”  It can only be reached by sea, and after disembarking at one of the smallest ports in the world, you must climb picturesque narrow steps. If your luggage is too heavy, one of the island’s seven donkeys will assist you. Don’t forget that, except for your legs, donkeys are the only means of transportation at Ginostra! The absence of motor vehicles will restore the sense of freedom that is missing from city life.

But before you get discouraged, Ginostra has food and beverages! They can be found at either of the two coffee bar/restaurants, or at the food-bazaar. There is also a doctor always on call. Wherever you are in Ginostra, you can look up and see Iddu, Stromboli, the volcano that looks like a picture drawn by a child. Its incessant and spectacular activity is more reassuring than disquieting. In ancient times it was considered the “lighthouse of the Aeolian Islands” - its glow is visible from miles away.

A vacation in Ginostra should include a excursion to the top of Stromboli, if you feel up to it. The trek is easy enough for anyone who is well-equipped and accompanied by a guide who has planned a custom-made itinerary with you (we suggest Magmatrek).

A pleasant and less strenuous outing is a hike to “Punta Corvo,” where you’ll be mesmerized by the “Sciara del Fuoco,” a “road”  created each day by the red-hot lava that flows from Stromboli all the way down to the sea. And here’s a suggestion for bird-watchers: give yourself a treat and enjoy a brief vacation in Ginostra during the springtime, when numerous species of migratory birds stop to nest on their way north.

If you turn around and face the other direction, you’ll find yourself looking at the calm blue sea, where the other beautiful Aeolian Islands (the “panettoni” of the gods), are scattered in the water like stepping stones.  Caught between land and sea, fire and water, your body, mind, and soul will feel free to go on vacation. Ginostra’s welcoming nature gives you the chance to look inside yourself.

Ginostra offers more than one way to enjoy the sea. You can pick the one that’s most suitable to your tastes and needs: next to the port, accessible and handy if you have children; below the church; or at the “Secche di Lazzaro,” where you can even feel comfortable in your “birthday suit”…