The Italian Island That Has Been Continuously Erupting for 2,000 Years
Stromboli, a small volcanic island north of Sicily, has been erupting almost nonstop for more than two thousand years. Sailors in antiquity knew it as the “lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” and its fiery presence still defines the island’s character today.
Researchers track its steady activity, artists work the dark stone into sculpture, and fishermen adjust their routines to its unpredictable force. Life alongside Stromboli calls for resilience and respect, yet the island continues to stand as a place where nature, culture, and science meet.
A Volcano That Rarely Sleeps
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Petr Novak
Stromboli has burned continuously for at least 2,000 years, with written records dating back to 300 BC. Its activity is so distinctive that geologists coined the term “Strombolian eruption” to describe similar mild explosions worldwide. These bursts usually occur every 10 to 20 minutes and send lava, ash, and glowing cinders into the night sky.
While many incidents are small and predictable, the volcano occasionally unleashes far stronger events known as paroxysms. These can produce pyroclastic flows, crater collapses, and even small tsunamis.
Scientists monitoring the island have documented nearly 180 paroxysms in the last 140 years, often happening in clusters. A major paroxysm in 2019 took the life of a hiker and forced evacuations, which reminded everyone that even a familiar volcano carries real danger. In November 2020, another unusually intense eruption covered parts of the island in ash.
Despite these risks, Stromboli continues to serve as both a natural beacon and an active reminder of Earth’s geological forces.
Centuries Of History in Ash and Stone
Civilizations have come and gone across the Mediterranean, yet Stromboli has burned steadily in the background. Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, and Normans once passed its glowing slopes as they crossed the sea. Over centuries, its activity coincided with turning points such as the Middle Ages and the Second World War.
In 1930, a violent eruption and tsunami caused six casualties and triggered mass departures. The island’s population, once about 5,000, fell below 500 as families left for the United States and Australia.
Soon after, Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 film Stromboli, starring Ingrid Bergman, restored global attention and brought visitors back. Today, this location and the other Aeolian Islands hold UNESCO World Heritage status, recognized for both scientific importance and cultural resonance.
Daily Life Around an Active Crater
Image via Getty Images/ Stock Photos 2000
Roughly 300 people live permanently on Stromboli today. The communities of this region and Ginostra, along with smaller hamlets like Piscità, exist in the shadow of the volcano they call iddu, meaning “he” in Sicilian.
Fishing remains a key livelihood, with boats leaving before dawn to catch swordfish, octopus, squid, and tuna. Fishermen typically bless their nets before casting them, which shows their respect for nature. Meanwhile, agriculture is making a comeback through vineyards, olive groves, mango, and avocado planting. Families use these crops to support agrotourism ventures.
On the other hand, craftsmen carve sculptures out of volcanic basalt and treat the stones as if they hold their own stories.
Overall, life on the island emphasizes balance rather than excess: residents tend to return unsold fish to the sea instead of wasting them, and children usually leave the island to attend high school, but many eventually go back.