Sicily is the largest and most important island in the Mediterranean, where it occupies a central position. Around it are a number of archipelagos: the Lipari or Aeolian islands, Ustica, the Egadi, Pantelleria, and the Pelagie.
Sicily and Calabria are regions of volcanoes.  The highest is Etna (3,370 m), a solitary relief near Catania. Other volcanoes have formed some of the minor islands: all the Lipari islands, Ustica and Pantelleria. Some of these are still active (Stromboli and Vulcano) or dormant, while others have been extinct since time immemorial.

Starting points: Milazzo, Portorosa (Sicily) and Vibo Valentia (Calabria).

Those are the ideal starting points to reach the Aeolian islands (Vulcano, Salina, Lipari, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea and the famous Stromboli). This group of volcanoes are of extraordinary beauty and crystal clear water is only few miles away.

Vibo Valentia (Calabria).
The charming coastal town, which lies at the foot of Mount Castelluccio in S. Venere bay, is the safest and most developped tourist-landing place between Salerno and Reggio Calabria. The harbour of Vibo Valentia Marina is formed by a curved wharf with quay and by an inner wharf. The seabed is sandy.
Distances: Capri: 140 NM, Lipari: 50 NM, Stromboli 40 NM, Milazzo 54 NM. Portorosa 70 NM.

Milazzo (Sicily).
The harbour is located at the beginning of the homonymous peninsula and is within the bay to the east of the cited peninsula. The harbour perimeter is 2,500 meters long and encloses a single basin. In the NE it is protected by a two-armed wharf  (Marullo wharf and Foraneo wharf) and in the South by an inner wharf.
Distances : Vulcano 16 MN, Messina (Capo Peloro) 20 MN.

Portorosa (Sicily).
Portorosa, a tourist port of Sicily, has 680 moorings with haulage, garaging and bunkering services. Besides a splendid swimming pool surrounded by green vegetation, a wide beach and an efficient shopping centre, Portorosa offers tourists a wide range of facilities: supermarkets, bars, restaurants, pizzerias, boutiques, bazaars. Portorosa is located between Capo Tindari and Capo Milazzo, opposite the charming Aeolian Islands.
Distances: Vulcano 19 NM, Milazzo 15 NM, Vibo Valentia 70 NM.
One way available between Portorosa and Procida (Naples) : approx 160 NM

Starting points: Palermo, Trapani, Marsala (Sicily).

This area of Sicily is ideal for art lovers who will find fine examples from the Roman Greek, Arab and Norman periods. From here you can sail to the underwater paradise of Ustica, the Egadi Island (Lervanzo, Marettimo and Favignana) and why not to Tunisia or Malta with a rest in Pantelleria, Lampedusa or Linosa.

Palermo (Sicily)
The harbour of Palermo, around which the ancient city has developped, is protected by an outer breakwater and by an inner wharf (South wharf), which encloses several great wharves and wide wet basins. The entrance of the harbour, 270 meters wide, faces southeast, the seabed is muddy and sandy and the depth is from 3 to 5 meters.
Distances: Alicudi 53 NM, Filicudi 61 NM, Salina 75 NM, Mouths of Vulcano 78 NM, Ustica 35 NM, Trapani 55 NM, Favignana 65 NM, Marettimo 73 NM.
One way available between Palermo and Procida (Naples) : approx 200 NM

Trapani (Sicily).
The port is formed of an outer harbour, a merchant and fishing port one and a tourist landing place which lies in the stretch of sea opposite Viale Regina Elena. It is protected by a 275-meter breakwater from which some floating landing stages branch off. The seabed is muddy bad holder, depth is from 3 to 8 meters.
Distances: Levanzo Capo Grosso 8 NM, Favignana 9 NM, Marsala 8 NM, San Vito 19 NM.

Marsala (Sicily).
The harbour of Marsala is an artificial harbour protected by two curvilinear coastal wharves and by an outer wharf. All jetties are equipped with rings, landing steps and petrol pumps. The seabed is sandy and muddy. Depth is 4 meters.