Baia di Levante

Baia di Levante is a sheltered bay on Vulcano, near the island’s main port. Steam vents and underwater thermal manifestations reflect the volcanic activity beneath the Aeolian island, while the bay forms part of the wider landscape recognised by UNESCO for its record of volcanic island-building.

Why it matters

The bay’s shoreline displays the continuing geothermal activity of Vulcano. The regional tourism authority identifies steam vents and underwater thermal springs among the island’s features; INGV records low-temperature hydrothermal manifestations at Baia di Levante and nearby Faraglione. These phenomena sit within the volcanic setting of the Aeolian Islands, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

What to notice

Along the bay, the meeting of water, volcanic rock and steam provides a visible expression of the island’s geology. The bay lies beside the port and settlement on Vulcano’s eastern side. Across the island, the volcanic cone of La Fossa and the nearby peninsula of Vulcanello form part of the same geological system.

Context and history

Vulcano is the southernmost of the Aeolian Islands and gave its name to the term “volcano.” Its Fossa cone erupted between 1888 and 1890, an event that became the reference for Vulcanian-style eruptions. INGV also describes Vulcanello’s formation following an eruption around 126 BC and its later connection to the main island by a lava isthmus. Baia di Levante’s hydrothermal features are part of this broader volcanic history.