Among the multi-coloured Aeolian houses of Lipari’s historic centre stands a romantic little cluster of three buildings: the Grand Hotel Arciduca, named in honour of Louis Salvator, Archduke of Austria. The Hapsburgs’ opulence combines with Sicilian styles from the end of the 19th century to create a summer palace. The bedrooms are elegant, public areas are warm and welcoming and the service is excellent. The restaurant terrace overlooks the heated swimming-pool with its hydromassage, set among the colours and perfumes of mediterranean shrubs. A sun terrace, a gym and a games room complete the ideal setting for a holiday on Lipari. Conference and meeting. Just a few steps away is the square of Marina Corta, by the fishermen’s port and the hydrofoil dock. The little beach of Portinente is a two-minute walk and the colourful little shops and boutiques in the town centre can be reached in a couple of minutes more. Those in search of culture, on the other hand, have only a 5-minute walk to reach Lipari’s Castle, which has a museum and an archaeological garden, and the Cathedral with its cloister.

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