Strombolicchio, Volcanic sea stack in Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy.
Strombolicchio is a basalt sea stack in the Tyrrhenian Sea, located about 1.5 kilometers northeast of Stromboli, with steep walls rising roughly 70 meters from the water. The summit is relatively flat and supports a lighthouse plus vegetation adapted to the harsh marine environment.
The summit of this ancient volcanic remnant was leveled in 1920 to build a lighthouse, which began operating in 1925. This structure helped ships navigate more safely through the volcanic waters of the Aeolian Islands region.
The name comes from Sicilian dialect and means Little Stromboli, showing the close connection to the neighboring larger volcanic island. Visitors sense this relationship when viewing the islet from the sea and noticing how near it sits to its larger counterpart.
You can only reach the islet during calm sea conditions, as boats depart from smaller harbors and land at a tiny pier. Climbing the roughly 200 steps to the lighthouse is steep and can be slippery, especially when spray wets the rocks.
The islet is home to a rare plant called Bassia saxicola, which grows only here and in Campania, perfectly adapted to the rocky, salty marine environment. These fleshy plants with tiny leaves are found in only a handful of places worldwide.
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