The Lipari observatory with a view of Vulcano

Landmark for the start: The start is poorly signposted, but there are two villas on the right-hand side of Via G. Rizzo that are identical apart from the colour of their façades. If you’ve come via Via Sant’Anna, it’s at the junction with Via G. Rizzo.

(S/E) A path leading down to the left from Via G. Rizzo has a brown sign with white lettering reading “Spiaggia Secca – Cappero Osservatorio”. Follow this path downwards towards the south.

A few dozen metres further on, ignore the sign for “Spiaggia Secca” and continue straight on, heading south, along the tarmac road. This road winds up and down, passing between the houses without any particular difficulty, before turning south-south-east.

(1) When you reach the end of the road, facing a black gate framed by two white pillars, take the footpath that continues from the road and passes over this private land, running alongside the fenced-off area, still heading in the same direction.

(2) The climb towards the observatory begins, heading north. Several paths run along the ridge; take any one of them as long as it goes uphill. For your information, there is a path leading down to Cappero beach (signposted) which you should not take.

(3) At the top, follow the wide path and then the tarmac road leading to the crossroads, where there is a sign indicating “Osservatorio 5mn”,

(4) Head south-west to your left and make your way to the observatory car park, which offers a lovely panoramic view.

(5) Go down the steps to the west of the car park to follow the ridge through the broom bushes to the triangulation point.

(6) Beyond this point, the slope becomes steeper and it becomes tricky to venture any further. There’s a lovely view of the rocky peaks.
For the return journey, take the same route: the signs indicate ‘Cappero – Lipari’ then ‘Lipari’ (S/E).

No water sources, no shelter. Hiking boots and walking poles will be necessary for the climb up to the observatory (and especially for the descent!)

On the way back, if you wish to shorten the route, you can (4) turn left and take the tarmac road as indicated by the hiker Chau50:
“On the way back, to avoid retracing the route I’d taken on the way up, (...) I turned left just as I was coming down from the observatory: a tarmac road winds its way between the villas and eventually joins the main road. I found the time saved well worth it.”
Many thanks to him for this shorter alternative route.

Lipari can be explored in a single day, and this walk is well suited to that itinerary.
We struggled a bit to reach the starting point on foot by strictly following the winding, rather uninteresting road (Via G Rizzo), only to discover afterwards that there was a more enjoyable route via Via Sant’Anna, which leads directly to the start.
Lipari’s town centre, its streets and its fortress are interesting, although they are a bit overrun by mass tourism.