Isola di Lipari (Sicily)

Lipari is the largest of a chain of islands in a volcanic archipelago ( the Aeolian Islands) situated in between Vesuvius and Etna, in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northern coast of Sicily, southern Italy. It is also the name of the island's main town and comune, which is administratively part of the Metropolitan City of Messina. Its population is 12,734, but during the May to September tourist season, the total population may reach up to 20,000. Besides the main town, most of the year-round population resides in one of the four main villages: Pianoconte is almost due west across the island, Quattropani in the northwest, Acquacalda along the northern coast, whereas Canneto is on the eastern shore north of Lipari town. The volcanoes are considered active, and steaming fumaroles and hydrothermal activity may still be seen.