LIPARI ISLANDS, a group of islands lying off the N. coast of the island of Sicily, to which they belong, forming part of the intendency of Messina, between N. Lat. 38. 20. and 38. 55., and E. Long. 14. 15. and 15. 15. They consist of seven principal islands,—Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Salini, Panaria, Felicudi, and Alicudi, and a number of adjacent islets and rocks. They are all mountainous, rising abruptly on their W. side to a considerable height, and sloping down gradually towards the E. They are evidently volcanic in their origin; and ancient writers mention several active volcanoes, though only one is at present in a state of action,—that on the island of Stromboli, which is constantly burning. The fires in the crater of Vulcano still emit sulphurous vapours; and the soil was burning hot when Spallanzani visited it in 1788. In 1786 it erupted a vast accumulation of sand, with much smoke and flame. The basis of the whole group is hornstone, which is covered with lava, scoria, pumice-stone, and other volcanic products. The soil thus formed is very absorbent in its character, and hence the inhabitants are obliged to construct capacious cisterns, in which rain-water is carefully preserved for irrigation and other purposes. The land is fertile and well cultivated, producing grapes, currants, figs, prickly pears, corn, cotton, olives, beans, peas, &c. Violent rains sometimes cause great injury to the grounds, owing to their situation and the friability of the soil; and at other times swarms of locusts do great injury to the crops. The cattle are lean and not abundant, as the pasturage is for the most part only adapted to the feeding of goats. Wine and raisins are largely exported, as well as bitumen, pumice, nitre, pozzolano, cinnabar, coral, and fish. Alum at one time formed a considerable article of export, but it has decreased
in quantity, probably in consequence of the diminished heat of the subterranean fires. Some sulphur is still exported, though much less than formerly, owing to a prejudice entertained by the inhabitants that the vapour which arises from its purification infects the air, and is injurious to vegetation. The climate is highly salubrious, and the air mild and refreshing. Storms and earthquakes, however, are frequent. Pop. about 23,000.
Lipari, the largest and most important island of the group, has an area of about 110 square miles, with a population of about 15,000. It is, for the most part, hilly or mountainous, with, however, valleys and plains of great beauty and fertility, producing a much esteemed malmsey wine. Wheat, cotton, beans, peas, and various kinds of fruits, are among its other vegetable products. On several of the mountains are craters of extinct volcanoes. There are also thermal springs in different parts of the island. Lipari, the chief town of the island, and the capital of the whole group, is situate on a steep declivity on the E. side of the island, in N. Lat. 38. 27. 56., E. Long. 14. 57. 50. It is a bishop's see, and the residence of a military governor, and has a commodious harbour with good anchorage. The town is irregularly built, with narrow and dirty streets. The principal public building is the cathedral. The castle, the greater part of which was built by Charles V. after Barbarossa had plundered the town, stands on a large volcanic mass, and incloses the cathedral and some other edifices. A large trade is carried on in the products of this and the other islands. Pop. 12,600.
The Lipari Islands were by the ancients termed Æolia Insulae, from their king, Æolus, who is fabled to have received from Jupiter power over the winds. They were also called Hephestiades, or Vulcaniæ insulae, as sacred to the god Vulcan, and Liparenses, from Lipara, the principal of the group. Lipara is said to have been so called from Liparus, son of Auson, one of its kings who flourished before the time of Æolus. It was colonized about B.C. 580, by Dorians from Cnidus and Rhodes, who, as they increased in numbers, extended themselves to the adjoining islands of Didyme, Hiera, and Strongylo. The necessity of defending themselves against the Tyrrhenian pirates led to the establishing of a naval force, with which they themselves not unfrequently resorted to piracy. At the commencement of the first Punic War, in B.C. 264, this island was subject to the Carthaginians, and became an important naval station. Captured by C. Aurelius in B.C. 251, it continued ever after a part of the Roman empire.