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Santa Marina Salina - Via Roma 62
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Quite distinct from the other Aeolian Islands, Salina sits in the central part of the Archipelago alongside Lipari and Vulcano, and is the second largest in size.
Divided into three municipalities, with Santa Marina to the south serving as the island’s main port, Malfa to the north and Leni to the southwest, nestled within nature, Salina is a verdant island greatly beloved by families and couples, not least for its tranquillity. The charming villages of Lingua, Pollara and Rinella are equally appealing.
Among Salina’s renowned beaches is the black-sand beach at Rinella, the island’s second port, crowned by caves carved into the rock, and Pollara Bay, nestled within an ancient crater that has largely collapsed.
Fossa delle Felci and Monte Porri are two of the six extinct volcanoes found on the island, separated by the Valdichiesa plateau, today protected as a nature reserve. The brackish lagoon that extends towards Lipari, in the island’s southeastern section, is where salt was once extracted—giving Salina its name.
Salina produces excellent wines, with the Malvasia—sweet and aromatic—being unmissable, alongside quality capers.
The verdant island of Salina, shaped by lava into an almost rectangular form, isn’t particularly cosmopolitan but offers visitors breathtaking panoramas and stunning coastlines punctuated by charming coves.
The main port, Santa Marina, is characterised by nineteenth-century dwellings, a handful of cafés and small shops. Malfa is an attractive village on the northern coast and an ideal destination for exclusive holidays, given its abundance of luxury accommodation. Val di Chiesa is a dramatically picturesque village, while Leni is the settlement furthest removed from tourism.
Santa Marina is Salina’s main centre and one of the Archipelago’s largest settlements. The port lies along the island’s eastern coast and is an important hub for maritime traffic in the Aeolian Islands.
Excellent hotels, refined restaurants and charming bars are found throughout this town nestled at the foot of Fossa delle Felci, one of the six now-extinct volcanic craters on the island, covered with shrubland and numerous ferns.
Santa Marina is the island’s liveliest and most vibrant area, boasting numerous small shops and bars. Not far away, hidden among the vegetation, are the Saracen caves, shelters carved into the tuff around 650 AD and interconnected, with votive inscriptions visible inside.
Heading south, you’ll reach the small fishing village of Lingua, its attractive pebble beach and the ancient salt pans dating back to the 3rd century BC which give the island its name—today a brackish lagoon.
Malfa is one of Salina’s most charming villages and a gem of the Aeolian Archipelago.
The village, composed of traditional whitewashed dwellings, sits in the central portion of the island’s northern coast, along a steep slope within the valley between Monte Rivi and Monte Possi. Malfa is home to numerous luxury hotels.
Overlooking the village square are the beautiful eighteenth-century Church of Sant’Anna and numerous bars and small shops. The village is very peaceful, with summer evenings enlivened by open-air cinema, an outdoor disco and various festivities, including the caper festival in June.
Nearby you’ll find the famous Pollara beach, dominated by a sheer cliff face, and Punta Scario beach, composed of large pebbles.
The small village of Lingua3, in the southernmost part of Salina, three kilometres from the main centre, faces the neighbouring island of Lipari and is famous for its brackish lagoon where Roman basins can be spotted.
A boat trip around Salina will allow you not only to admire stunning vistas but also to note down future excursions. Worth visiting are Scoglio Cacato, Capo Faro, Torricella, Punta Perciato and the Faraglione of Pollara. Among the most beautiful beaches are Rinella Bay and Pollara beach, where numerous scenes from the film Il Postino were shot.
The prehistoric village of Portella4, the remains of a Roman villa at Barone and the museums—the archaeological and ethno-anthropological ones in Lingua and the Civic Museum in Santa Marina—will give you insight into the island’s history of habitation.
The crown jewel of the Aeolian Archipelago’s second-largest island is naturally its landscape, with much of its territory falling within the Montagne delle Felci e dei Porri Nature Reserve. Trekking enthusiasts will be delighted with the numerous trails winding to the summit of Monte Fossa delle Felci at 962 metres above sea level.
The unspoilt beaches of Salina, stunning from a scenic viewpoint, are predominantly composed of pebbles, with the exception of the tiny beach at Rinella near the island’s second port along the southern coast, characterised by black sand.
Among the most enchanting is Pollara beach, at the northwestern tip, dominated by a striking amphitheatre-shaped tuff cliff, and Scario Beach5, near Malfa, immersed in Mediterranean scrubland.
On Salina’s eastern side, close to the island’s main port, lies Santa Marina beach, a spacious stretch of rounded pebbles easily accessible, while between Pollara and Malfa, enclosed by the Perciato promontory, you’ll find the Balate Bay, ideal for watching the sunset.
Pollara beach sits at the northwestern tip of Salina, near the village of the same name.
Dominated by an imposing amphitheatre-shaped tuff cliff towering directly above the sea, the small beach of dark pebbles and shingle is also known as Cala Troisi, as it served as the setting for numerous scenes from the film Il Postino, Troisi’s final performance.
Pollara beach is easily reached by sea, though on foot it requires at least 30 minutes’ walk along a steep path. Nearby is Balate Bay, accessible via a steep staircase, where you can admire boat shelters carved into the tuff.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Although it’s a small island, you’ll have the opportunity to choose accommodation in the location that suits you best: Santa Marina is ideal if you’re seeking convenience and services, with more restaurants, bars and shops; similarly, Lingua, with its attractive waterfront and numerous little restaurants. Malfa is decidedly quieter, and given its proximity, you can easily venture to Santa Marina or Lingua in the evening. However, Pollara is undoubtedly the most evocative location, though at certain times of day it tends to be crowded with boat tourists.
What's the weather at Salina? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Salina for the next few days.
Located at the heart of the Aeolian Islands, Salina is the second-largest island in the archipelago, just a few kilometres from Lipari.
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