Salina: A Dream Vacation -- For the ultimate dream vacation, head to one of the lesser-known Aeolian islands, Salina, where unexpectedly you'll come across one of the chicest hotels in Sicily .
Some of the best beaches in the Aeolians make Salina an undiscovered paradise. It may be close to Lipari in size and distance, lying 15km (9 miles) to the north, but it's not overrun by visitors. The landscape is untouched and not developed at all. For a unique beach experience, head for the dramatic Spiaggia di Pollara, a beach lying 100 meters (328 ft.) straight down from a series of cliffs in the midst of a semicircular volcanic crater. Seeing is believing.
Salina is also the highest of the Aeolians, its Mount Fossa delle Felci rising to some 915m (3,002 ft.). Inland is riddled with vineyards producing the Malvasia dessert wine, and the coast is studded with fishing villages.
Lying in the village of Malfa, on the north coast, Hotel Signum, Via Scalo (tel. 090-9844375; fax 090-9844102; www.hotelsignum.it), is a 30-room gem, run by Clara Ramette and Michele Caruso, who had a dream of creating a luxury hotel in the village of their birth. The location is only a 10-minute walk from the sea, and the hotel consists of a cluster of traditional white-painted Aeolian buildings. The comfortable bedrooms, each spacious, are in rustic Sicilian style with wrought-iron beds resting on terra-cotta floors. Rooms are filled with antiques, some with balconies, others with terraces, each with a panoramic view. Each unit comes with air-conditioning, TV, dataport, minibar, and safe. The pool is the best on the island, and the grounds are studded with fragrant lemon trees. Traditional Aeolian dishes are served, with freshly caught fish, homemade pasta, and seasonal vegetables. Depending on your own assignment, prices range from 110€ to 280€ ($132-$336) with breakfast included.
The Milazzo-Vulcano-Lipari-Salina ferry runs here.
