Healing Tourism in Italy's Aeolian Islands: Volcanic Mud Baths and Gourmet Delights

Tourists soaking in milky-white volcanic mud while singing, with a backdrop of blue sea and sky—this dreamlike scene is found on 'Vulcano,' one of the seven islands of the Aeolian archipelago in northeastern Sicily, Italy. The islands are home to many Michelin-starred restaurants and unique local dishes, making them a popular healing resort destination.

The archipelago recently invited media from 15 countries, including Taiwan's Central News Agency, under the 'Brand Eolie' initiative, with the support of the Messina municipal government and over 100 local businesses. The goal is to expand the tourism market, break through seasonal travel limitations, and encourage young people to return home for work.

●Volcanic Mud Baths for Skincare and Wellness: Reopened After Years
The Aeolian Islands consist of seven islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea.

Vulcano is the most famous for tourism, particularly its unique 'Pozza dei Fanghi' (mud pool). After being closed for years due to legal issues and accidents since 2020, it reopened in the spring of 2026, immediately attracting large crowds.

When the media group visited the baths, a group of Italian bathers were singing excitedly and waving, with one even acting as a choir conductor, hoping to spread the joy to global media. Unlike the Zen-focused bathing culture in Japan or Taiwan, Italian hot springs exhibit a completely different atmosphere.

A solo traveler covered in mud greeted the Taiwanese audience through the camera, sharing that he was from Ireland and had been in Sicily for 10 days, loving this healing way of travel.

A single ticket for the mud bath costs 5 euros (approx. 185 NTD). Staff member Cettina told the CNA that many travelers come specifically to improve conditions like eczema or arthritis, which usually requires several days, so the site also offers multi-day passes.

According to the city's official website, the pool consists of high-temperature, salty spring water composed of sulfur mud and sulfur steam. These components make it nearly impossible for bacteria to thrive. Soaking in the volcanic hot spring not only relaxes the body and mind but also helps improve skin conditions and relieves symptoms related to the skeletal and respiratory systems. However, it is not suitable for those with heart disease or those who are pregnant.

●Gathering of Master Chefs: Michelin Stars and Century-Old Restaurants
There are no airports on the Aeolian Islands. Travelers must take a plane or boat to Sicily from the Italian mainland and then transfer to a shuttle boat to reach the seven islands. The remote location makes the archipelago a paradise, attracting top-tier resorts and restaurants. Many foodies visit to 'collect stars' at Michelin restaurants.

Taking the five-star Therasia Resort on Vulcano as an example, it houses four restaurants with different styles and two bars, including the one-Michelin-starred Il Cappero and I Tenerumi, the first Michelin two-starred restaurant in Europe exclusively serving vegetarian food. 32-year-old chef Davide Guidara has sparked a vegetable revolution in the Italian culinary scene. He told the CNA, 'As a chef, I am driven by a sense of mission to use cuisine to tell local stories.'

Lucio Bernardi, a veteran chef on Lipari, represents another authentic culinary tradition. His family-run Ristorante Filippino was founded in 1910 and has over a century of history, having hosted many politicians and movie stars. Bernardi led a group of local master chefs to showcase local seafood-based specialties to the media.

The Aeolian Islands are also famous for their 'Malvasia' wine, made from the grape variety of the same name with a small amount of 'Corinto Nero.' The founder of Tenuta Castellaro on Lipari, Massimo Lentsch, fell in love with the land and selected ancient grape varieties, using traditional bush-trained and organic farming methods. Today, the wine is sold globally, becoming a model for local entrepreneurship.

●Art Groups Preserve Traditions, Energy Prices Exacerbate Fishery Crisis
Cultural groups are also working hard to preserve traditions. The 'Cantori Popolari delle Isole Eolie,' founded in 1972, performed traditional songs and dances for the media group. Women wore colorful puffy skirts, and men wore fisherman outfits, incorporating traditional activities like casting nets into their choreography. They frequently perform in Europe and America to promote their culture.

'The group was initially formed by a group of young people and students because we felt something was disappearing and wanted to use music and dance to tell our local traditions and the story of the Aeolian Islands,' a singer said emotionally.

In fact, fishing is a tradition that is rapidly disappearing in the Aeolian Islands. An old man selling fresh fish from a truck at the harbor scraped fish scales while introducing the dialect names of special fish to reporters, sighing, 'There are fewer and fewer fishermen.'

According to a documentary produced by the Aeolian Protection Association, the number of professional fishermen is dwindling rapidly. The Gazzetta del Sud reported last year that only 98 fishermen remained in the Aeolian Islands. This year, the Middle East crisis caused fuel prices to soar, increasing the cost of operating fishing boats. Many fishermen admitted that 'it is no longer worth going out to sea,' making the preservation of the fishing economy in the Aeolian Islands and all of Sicily a difficult challenge that the Italian government urgently needs to address.