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Sabrina Friedman, Staff Writer
The tiny yet charming island of Eunonimo (now Panarea) is most picturesque; realistically, it's any photographer's (and vacationer's) dream. Panarea, which covers a mere three and a half square miles total, also encompasses the small islands of Basiluzzo, Dattilo and Lisca Bianca and several gorgeous islets (namely, Battaro, Lisca Nera, Panarelli and Le Formiche.) All are considered parts of the same volcanic system of which Panarea was created.
The highest peak of Panarea is called Pizzo del Corvo, which rises nearly 450 meters and offers a beautiful descent to the East, dotted with terraces rich with corn and oversized olive trees. You'll find the best views on the Eastern side, as it is characterized by the (unfortunately rather inaccessible) rocky coasts of both Pizzo Falcone and Pizzo Castello. To the West, you'll find the slopes harsh and jagged, yet still covered in places with soft blankets of exotic and lush greenery.
In general, the island is comprised of masses of andesites, superimposed upon the Rioliti Colonnari and visible from the northernmost point of the island (called Calcara) and from that of the South (called Milazzese.) The small residential area, grouped into three districts (Iditella, S. Pietro and Drauto) is perched on the Eastern slopes. It is here that quaint white houses jut out of the rocky terraces and are enveloped by large, fragrant olive trees. It's an irresistible view for those looking to chuck the "city life" and experience a more simple existence.
Historically, we find the grandiose importance of Panarea is from more of a paleontological point of view than geological, due to its well-known villages, which date back to the fourteenth century. Should you choose to circle Panarea by boat, you'll find diverse scenery unfold before your eyes; from this fourteenth century period, colossal blocks (either rounded or cut into prism-lie figures), isolated within the sea around Panarea and crowned by tall pinnacles and magical inlets (the famous Gala Junco, for example.) Should you take a boat tour, be sure to ask the guide to point the Gala Junco out to you (it's easy to miss if you don't know exactly what you're looking for.) Another interesting tidbit about Panarea is that it was inhabited from Neolithic times, making it the oldest residential island in the Aeolian archipelago.
If history is what you are looking for, Panarea is the place to go. Fanatics of the Diana period style (no, not Princess Diana) will find remnants of this period on both Timpone del Corvo and at the base of Calcara. In Piano Quartara, ancient traces of a settlement belonging to the early Bronze Age have been identified and are available for public viewing on the island. (If you're very interested in the history of the Island, many tour guides off Lipari offer historical guides in additional to "regular" guides.)
Both the Point of Peppe Maria and at Calcara provide a glimpse into the Capo Graziano culture Milazzese, which predates the year 1000. For those truly interested in the ancient, on the southeastern part of the island you can find a village of huts dating back to the mid-Bronze Age. Yet there's still more. In archeological circles, the importance of the Basiluzzo is rather remarkable.
Throughout the island, the trained eye will spot remnants of Roman buildings in the Opus Reticulatum, complete with the weathered remnants of mosaic-style flooring and once-richly colored walls. With good weather, one can catch a glimpse within the sea bed of a large ruin, which modern archeologists believe was probably a dock from the Roman times.
Whether you're interested in beauty, history or both, you'll find something that appeals to any of your interests on Panarea. For a complete tour, find a jetski or waverunner and putt slowly around Panarea and its surrounding islands and islets. Some of Panarea's smaller islands also offer bits of history, but all are breathtaking in their beauty.
For more information about Panarea, check the Web site of Panarea of Isole Eolie.
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