Monte Filo dell'Arpa

Monte Filo dell'Arpa, rising to 675 metres, is the highest point on Alicudi. Its volcanic cone defines the island's profile, while stone steps and terraces trace the human landscape across its slopes.

Why it matters

Alicudi is the emerged portion of a much larger volcanic edifice. From the summit, the island's steep form and the surrounding Aeolian archipelago come into view. The peak is part of the Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola di Alicudi, established in 1997.

What to notice

The stone steps that climb the slopes were built along paths serving the island's settlements and cultivated terraces. Remnants of terracing show how agriculture once reached well above the village. On clear days, neighbouring Aeolian islands appear along the horizon. The name Filo dell'Arpa is commonly linked to a local dialect word for a buzzard, rather than to the musical instrument.

Context and history

The volcano belongs to the Pleistocene and has long been inactive. The island's steep terrain shaped both cultivation and movement: terraces and stepped paths allowed people and pack animals to work the slopes. Today the summit and its surrounding landscape remain protected within the nature reserve.