Are you curious to hear about Carnival celebrations in Italy? Marika describes for us some of the traditions and curiosities.

Are you familiar with any of the famous characters from the Commedia dell'Arte? And, what about "chats" that are a fantastic taste treat. Marika will tell you all about them.

Water is a precious resource and is as necessary to life as the air we breathe. Take a tour of some of the most spectacular natural sources of fresh water on the planet.

UNESCO counts the Aeolian Islands, off of Sicily's coast, among its World Heritage sites. The seven islands that make up the archipelago are: Vulcano, Stromboli, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea, Lipari and Salina.

The Aeolian Islands are a favorite destination for divers from all over the world because of the underwater grottoes and ancient shipwrecks.

Rossellini's 1949 movie Stromboli put the Aeolian island on the cultural map forever.

The "Sciara del Fuoco" is a stream of red-hot lava that travels from Stromboli's volcanic summit to the sea. Seeing it is an unforgettable experience.

A guided exploration of seabed flora and fauna that live, against all odds, in a volcanic environment.

Sport fishing is a great way to discover Stromboli's hidden corners, including Strombolicchio. The little island is a kilometer and a half off the main island.

A marine biologist takes us down to the seabed of Strombolicchio to show us some rare and beautiful specimens of marine animals.

Ginostra is a little village you can only get to by sea and whose harbor is the smallest in the world.

A visit to another Aeolian Island, this time, Salina, with its twin volcanoes. Its strategic position makes it a good starting off point for a visit to all of the islands of the Aeolian archipelago.

Pollara is one of the villages on Salina, one of the Aeolian Islands, and the only one to boast fresh water with the resulting vegetative mantle. In fact, its important crops include capers and grapes (in the form of Malvasia wine).

Panarea is the smallest of the Aeolian Islands, and is sometimes called the island with the sea inside it. Its transparent sea, steep bluffs, volcanic eruptions and quaint village make it very attractive to tourists.

In the usually quiet waters of the island, where the fishing is good, an unusual phenomenon was witnessed by fishermen and divers, an underwater volcano!

Lipari, one of the Aeolian Islands, is famous for it pumice stone.

Pumice stone has been mined for years on the Aeolians. Divers went there to explore the effect on marine life.

The island of Lipari is famous for having one of Italy's most important archaeological museums. This is largely because of the numerous shipwrecks that have been excavated. A particularly evocative aspect of Lipari is the presence of sea stacks that emerge from the water in a variety of shapes.

As its name Vulcano implies, this Aeolian island boasts three volcanic centers. Because of its natural beauty and geological interest, it has become an important tourist destination. In ancient times it was held as an important place, figuring in both Greek and Roman mythology.

Whether you want to explore the edges of the volcanic craters, visit the marine caves, or even get a mud bath for your aches and pains, the Aeolian island of Vulcano has plenty to offer!

Because they are difficult to reach--lying off the main sea routes--the islands of Filicudi and Alicudi have maintained their natural beauty.

In this last episode, we bid farewell to the Aeolian Islands, a fascinating place for its spectacular natural beauty.

Besides working as a journalist, Francesca is involved in some international projects for sustainability. Here, she tells about a hospital in Gaza.

"Sunshine for Palestine" has set in motion an innovative project for teaching the latest scientific theories to young people, and it has been enormously successful.