Aeolian Architecture

The architecture of these islands is evidently a reflection of the historic events and civilizations which have colonized the islands over the centuries. Commercial influences and colonization have not only left their mark on the social make-up of the islands, but also the architectural features.

Reflecting social class, the Aeolian Islands are home to villas of ancient noble dwellings located in the island centres, rural country farmhouses and watchtowers used for defence purposes, and smaller, simple homes belonging to craftsmen, workers and fisherman.

Historic monuments including defence towers and churches are frequent, as well as old pumice-stone laboratories, mills and characteristic houses in the historic centre.

By talking about "Aeolian architecture" we refer to the rural constructions, situated in the small villages or countryside built for agricultural purposes, which represent the core economy of the islands. The base units used to build here is the modular cube built upwards according to the varied demands for family homes. The result is a "compact" building, with air bricks built in lavic stone foundations, pumice-stone for exterior walls, and volcanic tuff used for terrace flooring.

Ancient dwellings where mainly closed buildings designed as a concept of defence. The buildings follow a vertical development, and offer limited outdoor space. The àstricoroof terraces were built in order to collect rainwaters, while the loggia, held by arched porches, would complete the upper floors.

With the improvement of economic conditions and the eventual fall of pirate attacks, the dwellings were eventually built horizontally on ground-floor with open terraces and loggia (bagghiu), surrounded by cylinder columns (pulèra), which erect almost to the height of the roofs. Most houses would be built with outer buildings, such as a cantina, a mill for barley and grain, and an oil-mill pressing olives and stables. Bright colours were used with white-washed based decorated with yellow and pink and often with hand-painted designs of the landscape.

These types of houses certainly outlined the existence of a different standard of social life, are the agglomeration of houses were very communal. Inside the houses this concept of life is depicted as the Spartan ambiance would be home to few materials essential for everyday life.

Since the end of the 18th century, with the birth of the economic development of the farming and merchant bourgeois, the construction of noble dwellings became more complex; houses were larger, both wider and taller as second floors were added with many more rooms. Balconies and windows were built fin panoramic locations. In the countryside villas often were built with a chapel allow for Sunday worship.

Particular attention also needs to be focused on the religious architecture of the islands, which makes up a fundamental part of the Aeolian culture and society. The diverse religious buildings are certainly more detailed than residential, reflecting not only the historic evolution of the different styles, but also the diverse cultures which have settled on the islands.

The Annunziata church of Lipari houses an example of unitary organization of residential and cult objects; there are also religious buildings which reflect exterior cultural forms, evident in their "opulent" designs, as well as buildings which reflect the local social economic climate giving a rural-religious feel coherent in their "familiar" design, with quiet interiors to be animated by worshippers.