- Alicudi
Alicudi is the westernmost of the eight islands that make up the Aeolian archipelago. The island is about 40 km west of
Lipari , has a total area of 5.2 km², and is roughly circular-shaped. It is located at coord|38|32|45|N|14|21|00|E|History
The island was formed by the long-extinct "Montagnola"
volcano , roughly 150,000 years ago. It has been suggested that the last evolutive act of the island took place only 28,000 years ago.The island was first populated as long ago as
17th century BC , as somearchaeological evidence from this period has been found. Roman ceramic fragments, dating from many centuries later, can be found on the eastern coast of the island.The modern name of "Alicudi" is a corruption of the island's ancient Greek name of "Ericusa" ( island of Erica ) , derived from the plant known as the
Erica , more commonly known asheather , which still grows on the island’s slopes. For many centuries, Alicudi was the target of frequent incursions bypirates . Consequently, the island’s population was forced to find shelter in small houses constructed on high terraces, and also meant that simpleagriculture and cultivation of thepeach were the foundations of the modest island economy.Demography
Today there are around 120 inhabitants, who mostly live off
fishing or the small agriculture of the island. There is only one restaurant on the island, and the menu depends greatly on what fish the local fishermen have caught, or what food supplies thehydrofoil brings.ee also
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List of volcanoes in Italy Notes and references
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External links
* [http://www.alicudi.it/ About Alicudi] it icon
* [http://www.estateolie.it/alicudi.htm Aeolian Island tourism website] it icon
* [http://www.alicudi.it/mappa-di-alicudi.htm Topographic Map of the Island]
* [http://www.alicudi.info Alicudi web] it icon
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