Page 253 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION: ALICUDI

By ferry and hydrofoil Ferries and hydrofoils arrive at the only port, Alicudi Porto.
Set in the cave-like dwellings to the left of the dock are the ticket offices (open just
before departures) for Siremar ( 090 988 9795) and Ustica Lines ( 340 301 5047).
Even in summer, when hydrofoil services increase to a maximum of four daily, it’s
usually necessary to change at Lipari if you’re travelling onto Vulcano, Milazzo,
Panarea or Stromboli. The only direct service to Milazzo is the daily summer Ustica
Lines service from Palermo; in summer there’s also one hydrofoil daily to Palermo.
The services detailed here are year-round; schedules increase during the summer

months.

Ferry destinations Filicudi (4–5 weekly; 1hr); Lipari (4–5 weekly; 4hr); Milazzo (4–
5 weekly; 6hr 15min); Rinella (4–5 weekly; 2hr 10min); Santa Marina Salina (4–5
weekly; 2hr 50min); Vulcano (4–5 weekly; 4hr 40min).

Hydrofoil destinations Filicudi (2 daily; 25min); Lipari (2 daily; 1hr 35min); Rinella

(2 daily; 55 min); Santa Marina Salina (2 daily; 1hr 10min).

Services Alicudi has just two little grocery stores, both near the port. Supplies of
fresh fruit and vegetables are limited at the best of times, so you’d do well to bring
what you need with you. Self-catering carnivores should also bring a coolbox of fresh
meat, as there is no butcher.

HIKING ON ALICUDI

Most of Alicudi’s hiking is up stepped tracks that seem to have been designed with
giants in mind, so be prepared for a good deal of calf-work. If you don’t fancy
hauling yourself to the top of the island (675m; 2hr), you’ll still get plenty of

exercise climbing up to the church of San Bartolomeo, where controversy rages
over the removal of a statue of the saint to a more easily accessible church lower