The inhabited part of the island is in the southeastern corner, on either side of the isthmus that leads to the point of Capo Graziano. This was the site of excavations of two early Bronze Age settlements, and the area gives its name to the "Capo Graziano culture," a period of settlement in the archipelago in the early 2nd millennium B.C.
An underwater archaeological museum lies off the coast of Capo Graziano. Accessible to experienced scuba divers accompanied by a local guide, it serves as a reminder of the innumerable shipwrecks off these coasts. Relics date from Greek ships of the 5th century B.C. to a 17th-century Spanish galleon. For information on visiting the site and other dives off Filicudi, contact I Delfini.
The Spiaggia del Porto and Spiaggia di Pecorini on either side of Capo Graziano are good pebbly beaches (no sandy beaches are on the island), and countless coves and inlets are ready to explore on boat trips around the island. Keep an eye out to the north of the island for a vast pointed basalt rock known as Il Giafante, Sicilian dialect for "elephant," the animal it (very approximately) resembles. On the west coast of the island, Punta Perciato, a natural arch carved out of the volcanic rock by infinite waves, sticks out into the sea. Nearby is the Grotta del Bue Marino. The most celebrated of the myriad caves around the island's coastline, "the Cave of the Sea-Ox" is named for the oxenlike "lowing" made by the echo of the waves. Rent a boat at the port, or catch a ride with a fisherman to get close, then swim into the cave to appreciate the beautiful light effects that turn the water an extraordinary shade of deep turquoise. The Festa del Mare is a moveable feast, celebrated here each August, when a candlelit procession of decorated boats makes its way toward the cave where a statue of Eolus is deposited on the seabed.
The sunset from Stimpagnato, on the south of the island, to the east of Pecorini a Mare, is spectacular. The sun sinks into the sea by the rock known as La Canna, with Alicudi in the background.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
