Panarea is the second smallest (after Basiluzzo) of the eight Aeolian Islands, a volcanic island chain north of Sicily. It is a frazione of the comune of Lipari. There are currently about 280 residents living on the island year-round; however the population increases dramatically in summer with the influx of tourists. In recent years, the island has become known internationally for its celebrity visitors.
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The island is an inactive volcano with a total surface area of only 3.4 km². The highest point on the island, Punta del Corvo, is 421 meters above sea level. There are thermal springs near the village of Punta di Peppe e Maria. Scuba diving is a popular excursion on this tiny island, and you can even swim to a shipwreck between the offshore rocks of Lisca Bianca and Bottaro.[1]
In antiquity, the island was named "Euonymus"; the nearby islet of Basiluzzo, administered from Panarea, was named "Hycesia".[2] There is archaeological evidence on the island dating back to Mycenaean inhabitants (~ 1200 BC), and the island was settled by Romans. There were people still living on the island until pirates and other Mediterranean raiders made life unbearable after the Fall of Rome.
In modern times, Panarea has become a fashionable vacation spot. In 2011, it was described by W magazine as "the epicenter of the chicest summer scene in the Mediterranean."[3]
Panarea and the entire Aeolian chain were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.[4] Largely because of this, construction and development are strictly regulated and the community retains its storied insularity. Most residences admit only temporary occupancy, and the few year-round homes available are highly expensive and difficult to obtain.[3]