Terra e Mare Casa Eoliana

Aeolian Style Revisited with a Sustainable Vision

This vacation home rental in Italy sits on Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands, just off the northern coast of Sicily. Its two small dwellings are not only visually striking, but they also have great heart, with eco credentials to match. 

The owners fell in love with this unique landscape, the slow life, the kindness of its people, the scents of the earth, and the glorious silence of the seascape. They also fell for what they call "the dexterity of the Aeolian masters," so they took the ruin of a traditional Aeolian house and updated it in tribute to both nature and the lines of local architecture. 

The goal was to create a home that is subtly beautiful but full of character, sophisticated but down to earth, with tiny details that surprise guests but remind them of what it's like to stay at the home of a good friend. It's a philosophy that's very much in line with what we believe at BoutiqueHomes, so we are delighted to have this gem in our collection.

Terra e Mare is made up of two houses: Casa Terra has two bedrooms, while Casa Mare has one bedroom. In keeping with Aeolian architecture, they are modular cubes with horizontal roofs, washed in soft earthy tones with accent colors, and boast large terraces with cylindrical columns and wooden beams. We love the molded alcoves inside the houses, the black window shutters, the recurring royal figures mounted on the walls, the abstract art, the jellyfish lighting in Casa Terra's kitchen, and of course the stunning views across the islands of Salina, Filicudi and Alicudi. 

Both dwellings have been completely modernized with sustainable materials. Photovoltaic panels gather energy, rainwater is collected and filtered, all fabrics are organic cotton, mattresses are vegetable foam, duvets are recycled plastic, dishes and glasses are recycled glass, bathroom dispensers are refilled with organic soaps and shampoos, cars and bikes are recharged using solar power, and cleaning products are all sustainable.

The two units can be booked separately or together, accommodating six guests in total. Breakfast is available for €15 per person but must be ordered one day in advance. A local chef, Alessandra Dal Zotto, who specializes in vegan cuisine, may be booked for full-board stays, and yoga retreats can also be arranged.

AROUND

This vacation home rental in Italy is located on Lipari, the most populous of the Aeolian islands. Its capital, also called Lipari, has an abundance of local bars, restaurants and shops. Take some time to visit the municipal museum, which displays archeological finds unearthed across the Aeolian islands, or take a tour of the town’s focal point, its historic citadel. Fortified during the Sicilian Arab period, a charming cathedral is to be found in the complex which is dedicated to the island’s patron, Saint Bartholemew, and whose relics are interred within. While meandering through the small streets and alleyways of the old town, sample some of the local Malvasia, a sweet dessert wine, which is a source of pride among Sicilians. 

Must-sees on the island include the Quattrocchi viewpoint and L'Osservatorio for their sea and volcanic vistas, as well as the pebbly beach of Spiaggia Valle Muria on the southwest shore. Boats between the islands almost always pass through Lipari harbor, so it's easy to reach Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina, Alicudi and Filicudi. We recommend hiking the volcanic uplands of Stromboli from a safe distance or taking an evening boat trip to experience its lava flows and gas-emitting fumaroles.

LOCATION

Quattropani, Lipari, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Nearest airports: Catania Fontanarossa Airport on Sicily's east coast and Falcone e Borsellino Airport in Palermo on the northwest coast. Ferries go from Milazzo in Sicily to Lipari harbor.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October.