Guide of Ginostra (Stromboli)

Ginostra is a tiny little village on the western coast of Stromboli, an island located just off the coast of Sicily. It has a population of just 40 people and less than a dozen mules and donkeys! It is beautifully located in a bay that looks like a natural amphitheatre. Until recently, the port in Ginostra was the smallest port in the world. This village is very remote and can only be accessed by boat, a new pier was recently built in 2004 to improve evacuation from the island in the case of a volcanic eruption. In the same year, electricity arrived in the village, thanks to photovoltaic panels and diesel generators. There are no vehicles permitted and luggage can only be moved around using mules. 

A brief history of Ginostra 

The history of Ginostra follows that of the rest of Stromboli, which has been inhabited since ancient times and prospered, from the production and cultivation of olives, vineyards, figs, Malvasia wine, and fishing. The succession of earthquakes and eruptions from 1930 onwards meant that the island's population began to emigrate and today only around 400 inhabitants inhabit the rest of the island.

What to do in Ginostra

The main thing to do in this tiny village is go hiking on the volcano, rent a boat to reach other parts of the island or maybe do a bit of fishing with the help of the locals. There is no bed and breakfasts and the only accommodation is in houses, which are mainly rented by the rich and famous in August. Much of life in Ginostra revolves around the plaza outside the church. There is plenty to keep scuba divers occupied, with a military shipwreck close by at only 15-20 meters depth. Groupers, bream, eels, octopuses, and sea urchins populate the water around the island. If you are lucky you can even see whales, dolphins, and swordfish passing by from the shore. Given the size of this village, the main sights are simply the church, the grocery store, two restaurants, and the war memorial.

Beaches around Ginostra

The coast near the village has no serviced beaches, but many people still dive from the rocks into the beautifully transparent water. There are three points where it is possible to swim, below the church along a path that leads to a rocky corner, near the harbour where there are some natural pools are set into the rock and at Lazzaro a simple beach along an old slipway that leads to the sea.