Quattropani on Lipari: Cave di Caolino and Chiesa Vecchia

Quattropani between volcanic landscapes and island culture

Quattropani on Lipari combines distinctive geology, religious sites, local cuisine and paths with views of the coast. Choosing a holiday apartment in Quattropani can be based on the desired mix of landscapes, culture, hiking and culinary enjoyment. At the Cave di Caolino, you can experience the volcanic side of the island, while Chiesa Vecchia, with the Santuario di Maria Santissima della Catena, wide-ranging island views and living traditions, provides a cultural focus.

Cave di Caolino and paths on the western slope

The Cave di Caolino are located on Lipari’s western slope in the Quattropani district. They can be reached via a narrow road branching off the provincial road towards Ospedale. The white, kaolinized clay formations and kaolin beds form the geological core of this landscape; fumarolic gases intensely color their surfaces in places. The Cave di Caolino overlook the “Timponi”, the island’s oldest geological formations, which formed around 220,000 years ago.

The path beside the Cave di Caolino showcases secondary volcanism and leads to the cliffs of Palmeto. It runs through Mediterranean grasslands where orchids bloom in spring and passes a small basin fed by water from a thermal spring. The coast around the Cave di Caolino is a habitat of the yellow-legged gull (Larus cachinnans) for much of the year. A secluded path also offers views of historic mining activities. A steep path running through the “Timpone” reaches the coast; through narrow valleys, it continues to the ancient, now dry Lake Bagno Secco.

Chiesa Vecchia, pilgrimage and historic traces

At the highest point of Quattropani, the Santuario di Maria Santissima della Catena is located in Chiesa Vecchia. It was built in 1588 in honor of the Madonna della Catena. The sanctuary contains an 18th-century oil painting of the Holy Virgin and Child, as well as a wooden statue of the Madonna della Catena from the same century. From Chiesa Vecchia, views extend across Salina and to the more distant islands of Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi.

The feast of the Madonna della Catena in Quattropani lasts three days and takes place between Chiesa Vecchia and Chiesa Nuova. At its center is the nighttime pilgrimage on the night of September 7–8. The Christmas season also has its own expression: Every year in Quattropani, the tradition of a nativity scene is renewed. The handmade nativity scene in Chiesa Vecchia is created by volunteers under the direction of the Associazione “Castellaro”.

Near Quattropani is the Castellaro Vecchio open-air station, which is associated with the oldest known phase. The prehistoric inhabitants of Castellaro Vecchio used obsidian from the prehistoric lava flow of Pomiciazzo. Thus, the natural environment and early island history in Quattropani are directly connected to the subjects you can discover along various paths.

Wine, specialties and island paths

Tenuta di Castellaro in the Quattropani district offers wine tastings by reservation. A picnic in the vineyard is also available there by reservation and leads to a hidden viewpoint after a short walk. A Menza Quartara has bread salad and homemade liqueurs among its specialties. These two culinary destinations offer different accents between winegrowing, regional flavors and a deliberately planned stay.

Quattropani is connected to the town of Lipari by the panoramic road that runs around the island. The Lipari–Pianoconte–Terme S. Calogero–Quattropani route is one of the trekking routes on the island of Lipari.

More destinations for your travel planning

If you would like to discover other places in the same region in addition to Quattropani, you can find Castelmola, Sant'angelo Di Brolo, Naso, Marina Di Patti, San Francesco Di Paola, Ginostra, Montalbano Di Elicona and Ficarra.

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.