We based ourselves in Milazzo off the Coast of Sicily and the closest port to the Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) for Day trips.  Our visit to the islands consisted of a long day trip to 2 of the closest islands being Lipari and Vulcano.  We utilised Liberty Lines being local ferries around the islands rather than undertaking with a tour company.  Ticket prices were reasonable with a lot of flexability for ferry times, and we could take our Boston Terrier dog with us.  Lipari was more urbanised with a lot more infrastructure, activities and sites.  We particularly enjoyed the old castle area with the Basilica di Dan Bartolomeo and the archaeological ruins in the area.  The islands are inscribed due to their volcanic landforms, activity and the continuing study of volcanology through history.  They are also home to a number of unique and threatened bird species, reptiles and mammals.  Which we found interesting as there were numerous cats on both islands wandering around, which we thought would be a threat to these unique and threated species themselves.  That being said, we spent about 4 hours exploring Lipari town before catching another ferry to Vulcano.  On volcano, the sulphur "rotten egg" smell immediately hits you and is present for most of your exploration of the Vulcano Porto.  The volcano on Vulcano is active and rising above the town you can see the smoke constantly coming from the top, although you don't feel threatened in any way.  We explored the mud pools (didn't partake) and the Acque Cade beach, where you can see the volcanic activity with gas bubbling out of the ocean floor, providing warmer water to those that were swimming in the area.  We did not climb this volcano but explored the township area for a couple of hours before taking a return ferry back to Milazzo arriving late in the afternoon.  It is a location I would return to, but I think I would explore some of the other islands in the Archipelago in our next visit.