Spiaggia Ficogrande

Rising out of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Aeolian island of Stromboli looks every bit the archetypal volcano it is. The towering, and often smouldering cone, is one of three active volcanoes in Italy. It is therefore perhaps no surprise the little island is home to a number of volcanic black sand beaches.

Best of the bunch, or at least the easiest to access, is Spiaggia Ficogrande. This 600 metre long stretch of coarse, pebbly black sand is the most popular spot on the island. Despite this it never gets too busy, even in the peak season.It’s generally safe to swim at Ficogrande and the water here is clear and clean.

The beach usually has a few small fishing boats resting on it and there are a scattering of whitewashed buildings spilling onto the beach and only adding to the charm. Beyond this the steep, verdant mountainside makes for a stunning backdrop.