I had already told you, in the post about information and ideas on the island, that Salina liked me less than Stromboli. Today, therefore, I want to tell you something about my stay, how I spent the three days (actually 2 and a half) on the island before returning home.
From Stromboli, with the fast boat, we arrived in Santa Marina in about an hour of navigation, and we started our “settling” tour by walking along the main road. Here are several small shops, more or less extensive, more or less attractive (for a gift for the family you can try to take a look along this road). We had our first walk of the island around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and, perhaps because of the many shops (of any kind) closed, Santa Marina there for them there have not many fans (recovering a minimum in the following days). In addition to the church that “closes” the main square and some nice corner that opens onto the panorama, there is not much else to see as far as monuments and museums are concerned. Apart from this, the thing that is noticeable is the amount of very sociable cats that roam the streets of this village: I admit that I enjoyed especially with a cat that, for a few minutes, has also decided to follow me around.I immediately notice the difference with the beaches of Stromboli, the almost total absence of sand in favour of the stones.
The long pedestrian promenade of the waterfront has undoubtedly helped me to appreciate at least a little these beaches (I prefer those of sand, at least I do not hurt my feet with every step I take). Anyway, loving the sea, I did not resist making me at least a mini-bath at the (“almost”) sunset of the first day we spent here in Salina. The island is made up of various villages where you can go thanks to bus service. We began to discover (almost) all the only whole day that we spend on the island and start with the village of Malfa, where we have to stop to wait for the bus to continue our tour of the island.
This island village is located in the hills, about 100 meters above sea level (so if you want to take a beach holiday do not choose your hotel here) and occupies about a third of the island. We walked the main square, where also stop the buses, and there is also the church, we took a walk through its streets and then stop at the bar in the square, very lively and lived by both the inhabitants and tourists. From the square, we took the bus that in about 20 minutes of travel arrives at the tiny fraction of Pollara.
This fraction of Salina is famous for two reasons: the first is that here is the villa used as a set for the film “the postman” by Troisi; the second is its beautiful beach (currently can’t be reached due of a landslide that has made the road that arrives uninhabitable). Here you will find even less than in Malfa and Santa Marina. The only commercial activity is the bar L’Oasi that the owner Alessandro takes care of with great passion for four months a year (those of the summer season). He told us how much he committed himself and how (and how much) he worked to make his bar working, even selling the photos he took himself (always at the bar, displayed in a particular stand). Alessandro also told us that he takes care of cleaning the stretch of road in front of the bar (which is why, Alessandro told us, the town no longer sends the street sweepers to clean the road).
Alessandro explained that he could not earn enough, in those four months, to be able to live all year! In addition to that, his short period of work does not allow him to be able to have his house (for him and his girlfriend); we were struck by all this, seeing the passion that, despite everything, puts in his work. I admit that his story has hit me a lot, perhaps because we have a few years of difference and his situation of difficulty for some things is very similar to mine. If you arrive here to take a bath, you need to follow the directions made by Alessandro: you will reach a tiny “beach” formed by a boat descent that joins a rocky area. You can also rent mattresses and let you bring sandwiches always thanks to Alessandro (there is still a guy from his bar, you can ask him). Remember, when you are here, the bus schedule to avoid the last one and you can not go back.
The last day, that of the return, we take the opportunity of our departure from the port of Rinella to visit also this tiny fraction of the island of Salina.
Even here there are no monuments to visit, but small alleys that remind Greece (even if less than the rest of the island), many cats that look curious tourists and a beautiful sea in which to take a bath. The beach at the port is all under the sun, so I strongly suggest you have sun protection, sunglasses and a hat. We arrived here in the morning just before lunch: the bus stops right at the port, next to the ticket office, but there isn’t any deposit for luggage! You may ask the guy at the ticket office of the port but is not obvious to have an affirmative answer. So consider very well how to organize, what time to take the bus to get here, not only based on the departure time of the ferry but also based on this organizational aspect!