Alicudi, forget about everything else
Keepers of winds, legends and inexhaustible sources of beauty, the Aeolian Islands remain a constantly evolving reality. Abodes of unspoiled nature and a way of life that makes contemplation of places its cornerstone. The following column has no explanatory purpose in the strict sense; it aims to make those who will read travel not only in space, but mainly in the soul of these suspended places, between sea and sky.
Moving on foot and having the feeling of enjoying, exploring and appreciating what surrounds us is a feeling that has now become almost utopian, given the pace of life to which we are inexorably subjected.
Frenzy, Delay, Fatigue, Coincidence, Stress, Deadlines.
These are terms that belong to our common language, and which, very often, have replaced the true value of being.
Now I propose that you sit down. Breathe deeply and let your mind wander in search of that non-place that is actually a sharp, pure and clear image.
Let yourself be carried away by the wind, discovering an oasis of peace, a pleasant and ancient place, where time seems to be marked only by the slow rhythms of the past, by the work of artisans and fishermen, in a bare scenery, enriched only by the colors and scents of the wildest nature, untouched by man.
We are in Alicudi, the westernmost of the seven beautiful islands that make up the Aeolian archipelago, considered among the most secluded in the Mediterranean.
Because of the rugged land morphology, Alicudi has no paths or roads running around its perimeter: to this day, one still moves only and exclusively on foot along the steep mule tracks, in the company of mules, which have remained over the centuries, along with boats, the only means of locomotion available.
“It’s a different island from the others, where we can finally focus.”
(Nanni Moretti, from the film “Dear Diary,” 1993)
For a few. Usually when Alicudi is mentioned, these two words resonate overwhelmingly in the discourse.
And from the analytical point of view, it can only be so. Logistical difficulties are the order of the day: the island lacks night lighting, mobile network and any reference to the constantly evolving technology of the contemporary world.
But after a deeper and more intimate look, it will be precisely this that will lead to its ultimate consecration as an ideal place to live from the essentials and re-establish contact with oneself.
Not a peal of bells, not a call but the greeting of the vessels that dock punctuating island life. The arrival of hydrofoils suddenly overcomes the silence of the island, every din attracts and nails everyone’s gaze, then life goes on slowly in its becoming.
And intrinsically that “for a few” mutates irreversibly toward a “for all.”
For those who seek peace and tranquility, for those who appreciate the strong beauty of nature, for those who believe that their dreams should be realized.
For each of us, custodians of an archetype of living reflected in the sea of this umpteenth Aeolian dream.
copyright Elena Braghieri
by James Gandola
The trip to the Aeolian Islands, accompanied by Giacomo Gandola, also took us to discover other islands, don’t miss them: Stromboli, Filicudi, Vulcano, Panarea, Salina.
And if you can’t wait to visit them, book your tour with Charter Aeolian by clicking here.