Explore Salina and the Aeolian Islands

Aeolian Islands

The peculiarity of the Aeolian Islands is their morphology, shaped over the millennia by the presence of volcanoes, their activity, and the action of the sea and wind, almost as if an artist had patiently, with maniacal work on details, chosen the most beautiful form, colors, smells, sounds and tastes most delicate, intense, rich and full, to create an artistic masterpiece that excludes none of the five senses. The Aeolian Islands located north of the Sicilian coast of seven islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Panarea, Salina, Alicudi, Filicudi, Stromboli; and five smaller islets: The Aeolian Islands, Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea, are located in the northeast of Sicily and represent an extraordinary testimony to the birth and evolution of volcanic islands.
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Despite the volcanic activity that is still ongoing, or even because of it, the Aeolian Islands are fascinating islands, a natural environment rich in flora and fauna with wonderful beaches, coves, caves, inlets, stacks, and with a great variety and richness of seabed. Also linked to volcanism are the earliest human settlements on Lipari and Salina, dating back to several centuries before 4000 B.C., for the search for and use of obsidian, the volcanic glass due to the cooling of lava, which was the sharpest material available. This trade brought the islands extraordinary prosperity. The study of the islands, dating back to the 18th century, provided volcanology with the definition of two types of eruptions, the Vulcanian and the Strombolian, and continues to enrich the science of the field. Vulcano, the third largest island in the archipelago after Lipari and Salina and the southernmost, remained uninhabited due to strong volcanic activity. Only after the last major eruption in 1888 did Crater Grande cease to be active, and some farmers were able to settle and live on the island. Currently, volcanic activity is limited to fumarolic emissions, which are present almost everywhere. Stromboli is the only island in the archipelago with permanent volcanic activity and frequently offers the extremely impressive spectacle at night of the sciara of fire descending to the sea. The Aeolian Islands have a special identity because they are the peaks of a submarine chain of reliefs, so they are the visible part of the submerged mountain range that follows a linear development of about 87 km, from the northeasternmost point (the island of Stromboli) to the westernmost point (the island of Alicudi), and that extends deep into the west with other submerged volcanoes.

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Tourism

To engage in tourism, one needs the earth and the sky, the light, the sun, the moon, the water, the wind, the stars, and the fire. It is also necessary for all these elements to thrive, and, above all, for the host communities to be well before the tourists arrive. Because there can be no hospitality without happiness. The Community of Salina has decided to transform its island into a new model of ecological well-being, aiming to use tourism as a framework for sustainable development.
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What to see in Salina

The island's main port of call is Santa Marina, where there is also a marina; on the southwest side, however, there is the port of call at Rinella. The entire island is connected by convenient rolling roads, which twist along the slopes of the mountains, crossing lava flows with surprising shapes. The best way to visit the island is definitely to rent a scooter or a car, in any case in the summer period an efficient bus service runs until late in the evening.
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The caves

In the western part of the town, about 100 meters from the Santa Marina bypass, in the Serro dell’Acqua area, a path leads through vegetation of olive and fruit trees to the Saracen caves. These caves, carved into tuff rock and hidden by dense vegetation, were used as shelters to escape the horrific atrocities committed by the Saracens around 650 AD. The caves, captivating for their morphological structure, consist of several interconnected chambers where cross carvings and numerous votive symbols are still visible today.
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Santa Marina

  • The archaeological excavations of Portella and Punta Barone.
  • A stroll along the main street, featuring Art Nouveau houses, small gardens, and glimpses of inner courtyards.
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Wine Museum

The small but significant Wine Museum, located on Via Risorgimento (behind the Town Hall, where you can inquire about opening times).





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Lingua

Heading south along the road, about 2 km away, you reach Lingua, a charming fishing village known for its unique pebble beach reflected in crystal-clear waters. Along the way, take a moment to admire the 18th-century stone bridge in Vallone Zappini, a remnant of the ancient road. Lingua stretches along the northeastern coast of the island. A seaside terrace leads, through establishments renowned for excellent food, to a brackish water lagoon separated from the sea by a thin strip of land, once home to the salt pans that gave the island its name. Some tanks from the Greek period of the 3rd century BC are still visible. The area, dominated by a picturesque lighthouse, is a natural reserve and an ideal spot for birdwatching enthusiasts, who can enjoy captivating displays during migration seasons.
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Fossa delle Felci

From Santa Marina, the Lingua hamlet, and Val di Chiesa, trekking enthusiasts can reach Fossa delle Felci in 2–3 hours. This ancient volcanic crater offers stunning panoramic views of the other Aeolian Islands and even Mount Etna.
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Aeolian Emigration Museum

The Aeolian Emigration Museum tells the story of the Salinari diaspora, which began at the end of the 19th century due to the phylloxera epidemic. On the yellowed civil registry records, one can still read the names of the first inhabitants who left their homes and land in search of fortune in Australia and the United States.
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Not to be missed

  • The walk over the salt pond to the old lighthouse at sunset.
  • The small but well-kept archaeological museum.
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Malfa

The charming village of Malfa, likely named after Amalfitans who emigrated in the 12th century, is located on the northern coast of the island, nestled in the valley between Monte Rivi and Monte Porri. Its whitewashed houses are scattered along a steep slope descending toward the sea. The village features a small pebble beach with lava boulders and a modest harbor, known as Scario Galera, which is partially sheltered and suitable for small-draft boats.
In the main square, you'll find the 18th-century Church of Sant’Anna, whose interior houses numerous paintings and sculptures, including the Nativity of the Virgin (1742), the Madonna of the Rosary (19th century), the Madonna of the Guard (20th century), a wooden sculpture of the Sacred Heart (1925), a sculpture of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child (20th century), and another depicting Saint Joseph with Jesus.
The surrounding area is lively, with local eateries and small shops. The square's pavement is adorned with a compass rose, symbolizing the connection between these islands and the winds that dominate them.
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Pollara

The hamlet of Pollara is built on the remains of an ancient crater that has partially collapsed, leaving behind a sea stack that rises from the water like an imposing “guardian,” holding millennia-old secrets. The village is centered around the Church of Sant’Onofrio, built in 1853. Inside, it houses the statue of the Immaculate Virgin of Sant’Onofrio, several paintings dedicated to the Madonna, and the original flooring.
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Leni

The municipality of Leni, named "Lenoi" by the Greeks after the containers used to press grapes, is situated between two mountains and includes the hamlets of Rinella and Val di Chiesa, the latter being home to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito. The sanctuary was built on the remains of a modest sacred structure created by a hermit who placed an image of the Virgin Mary there. In 1962, a farmer discovered the old painting of the Madonna among the ruins of the previous building, and a church was erected on the same site.
In the mid-19th century, the sanctuary underwent its first restoration. Today, it is the third-largest church in the archipelago. Inside, there is an 18th-century canvas depicting the Madonna protecting the islands and a wooden statue of the Madonna with the same iconography as the ancient painting that was uncovered. More recent modifications include the addition of two bell towers flanking the statue of the Madonna and the expansion of the central nave.
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Rinella

The small fishing village of Rinella is nestled in a steep valley that descends directly to the sea. Picturesque, unique, and full of charm, this spot is one of the most distinctive on the entire island. Here, visitors can explore a stunning crescent-shaped black sand beach, overlooked by caves carved into the rock that once served as shelters for boats. The shallow, sandy seabed is a paradise for snorkeling enthusiasts, offering not only a view of vibrant marine flora and fauna but also volcanic activity. This phenomenon, known as sconcassi , features gas and vapor emissions rising from the seabed.
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