La Canna di Filicudi

La Canna is a tall volcanic sea stack off the north-western coast of Filicudi. Rising about 71 metres above the water, it is one of the most distinctive offshore formations in the Aeolian Islands.

Why it matters

The stack is the exposed remnant of volcanic activity that shaped Filicudi. Sicily's protected-area registry lists it as a geosite, while geological accounts describe it as a volcanic neck formed when hardened magma remained after softer surrounding material eroded. Its isolated position in open water makes La Canna a defining feature of Filicudi's seascape.

What to notice

From the water, the rock's steep, layered sides and column-like formations are visible above a deep coastline. Nearby are the lower Scoglio della Fortuna and the islet of Montenassari. The stacks provide habitat for seabirds, including Eleonora's falcon, and the protected area also records the endemic Aeolian wall lizard.

Context and history

Filicudi is among the older islands of the Aeolian arc, but the precise age of La Canna's volcanic neck has not been established. No eruption on the island is recorded in historical times. The regional nature reserve Isola di Filicudi e scogli Canna e Montenassari was established in 1997; La Canna and Montenassari lie within its integral protection zone.