2 Best Sights in Lipari, Sicily

This vast, multi-building museum named after its founder is terrific, with an intelligently arranged collection of prehistoric finds—some dating as far back as 4000 BC—from various sites in the archipelago, as well as Greek and Roman artifacts, including an outstanding collection of Greek theatrical masks, and even interesting information on volcanoes. Basic descriptions about the exhibits are provided in English and Italian, though more comprehensive information is in Italian only. That said, there is so much to see, the museum is worth at least a few hours of your time.

True to its name, the island of Vulcano has a profusion of fumaroles sending up jets of hot vapor, and although the volcano itself is dormant, emissions have recently reached dangerous levels, occasionally resulting in parts of the island being evacuated. When it is safe, visitors can come to soak in the strong-smelling sulfur springs or to sunbathe and walk on some of the archipelago's best beaches, though the volcanic black sand can be off-putting at first glance. Volcanic conditions permitting, you can climb the volcano and walk right around the crater.