Salina Island

Salina is the second largest island of the archipelago and it is also the most fertile. The natural freshwater springs of Salina combined with its volcanic terrain make the island so fertile.
The island is shaped by two long-extinct volcanoes, “Fossa delle Felci” and “Monte dei Porri” which are the Aeolian islands’ highest peaks. The ancient Greek name of Salina “Didyme” means twins and refers to the camel-hump shape of those two volcanic cones. The current name comes from the salt lagoon “saline” in the tiny village of Lingua.
The famous honey-sweet Malvasia wine is produced here according to traditional techniques. Food-lovers can taste the delicious “Granite” dessert and will love the taste of the juicy capers that flavor the local dishes. In June, Salina hosts a gastronomic festival dedicated to the wild caper. Salina also boasts some excellent restaurants, cafes and shops.
One of the sights in Salina is the “Santuario della Madonna del Terzito”, an imposing 19th century church. From the top of the mountain “Fossa delle Felci”, the views are breathtaking, looking west towards Filicudi and Alicudi, down over the “Lingua” salt lagoon and south towards Lipari and Vulcano.
In 1994 the Oscar-winning movie “Il postino” (The postman) was filmed in Salina. Starring Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret and Maria Grazia Cucinotta, the movie was adapted from the novel “Ardiente Paciencia” and tells of the exile of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda in Italy.