Guide of Santa Marina (Salina)

Salina is part of the Aeolian archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. There are six ancient volcanoes in the surrounding area and its name derives from one of the volcanoes from which salt was extracted, in Santa Marina. The island is divided into three areas, Santa Marina, Malfa and Leni. Salina, like most of the islands in the archipelago, has a history dating back to the Bronze Age and evidence shows that the island was already populated at this time.

Archaeological excavations tell a history of ups and downs and abandoned monuments especially from the Arab hegemony. This land on Salina is the most fertile in the whole archipelago, it is rich in water and is ideal for grapes cultivation, and the production of the Malvasia delle Lipari wine along with capers that are exported all over the world.

A pristine sea surrounds the landscape, there are amazing sunsets that go right out to sea along with scents and flavours that remain etched into your memories. The town of Santa Marina is located on the slopes of Fossa dei Felci, where there is a huge crater covered with ferns. There is also a small church dating back to 1700, with lovely bell towers.

Places to visit

In the area of Serro Dell'Acqua, there is a path that leads to the Saracen Caves, where the local population took refuge in around 650 AD to escape barbarians and Saracen raids. These caves are truly fascinating, and thee are visible cross-shaped incisions symbols visible inside them. Malfa is a village on the northern coast of the island, where you can see the traditional white houses on the slopes that descend into the sea. In the central square, there is the Church of Sant’Anna, which is from the eighteenth-century and houses many paintings and sculptures. In the surrounding area, there are small shops, bars and restaurants where you can taste the traditional island cuisine.

The town of Leni, which owes its name to the ancient Greek containers in which grapes, called Lenoi, were pressed, is worth a visit. In this area, there is also the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito, located on the ruins of a sacred building that was built by a hermit, who placed the image of the Virgin Mary in there. In the 1960s a farmer found the painting and a church was built on the ruins.

There is also Rinella, a fishing village that is probably the most fascinating place on the island, it has a crescent-shaped beach with black sand surrounded by caves carved into the rocks. Then there is Pollara, which is a natural amphitheatre that extends under a steep cliff, in the north, there is Balate and Perciato, with its natural arch in the sea which is visible from the beach. This place was made famous during the filming of Il Postino.