Alicudi — the climb to Filo dell'Arpa
There is no trail: there are steps. Thousands of them, in stone, built by hand along the flank of the cone. That's how you climb to 675 metres, the archipelago opening up at every turn.
- Difficulty
- Impegnativo
- Duration
- 3 h there and back
- Elevation gain
- 675 m
- Altitude
- 675 m
- Season
- All year except the hot hours of summer
Climbing an island by steps
On Alicudi there are no drivable roads, and no paths in the usual sense either: the only way to move vertically is up the stone stairways built by hand along the slope — the same ones the mules climb with the luggage. You start at the harbour and go up, without switchbacks and without shortcuts, the island narrowing beneath you and the sea widening.
The Timpone delle Femmine
Halfway up, above the last houses, you reach the abandoned terraces and the rock clefts islanders call the Timpone delle Femmine: by tradition, the hiding places of the women during pirate raids. From there upward the vegetation lowers and you walk among heather and broom.
At the top
The 675 metres of Filo dell'Arpa are the rim of an ancient crater. From up there you see all the other Aeolians lined up to the east — Filicudi very close, then Salina, Lipari, Vulcano — and on clear days the Sicilian coast. It's one of the most complete views in the archipelago, and you can only get there on foot.
What to expect
About an hour and a half up and an hour down, which on steps is harder on the knees than it sounds. Two litres of water: there is none above the village. No shade in the upper section, so start early. And check the last boat back to Sicily before you begin climbing: getting the time wrong on Alicudi means sleeping there. The island →
Frequently asked questions
How long does the climb to Filo dell'Arpa take?
About an hour and a half up and an hour down, three hours in total including stops. The whole climb is on stone steps, for 675 metres of ascent.
Is the climb to Filo dell'Arpa difficult?
It is demanding because of the continuous ascent and because it's entirely on uneven steps, which are hardest on the way down. There are no exposed or technical sections: it takes fitness, not skill.
Stay in Capo d'Orlando
A base in the centre — and everything else becomes a day trip.
The port for the Aeolians is 45 minutes away, the Nebrodi right behind. Breakfast served early for dawn departures.
Direct booking, no intermediaries · See the rooftop →