Island of Salina, Italy

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which it owed its ancient name of Didyme (The Twins); they are Monte Fossa delle Felci (962m/3,157ft) in the east and Monte dei Porri (850m/2,790ft) in the west, separated one from the other by a valley.

Vegetation

Thanks to its water resources Salina is extremely fertile, and its green vegetation makes it friendlier and less bizarre than the other islands in this archipelago. In the higher parts of the island grow ferns and bracken, chestnut trees and macchia, and lower down fig-cactus, capers and, on terraces, vines and fruit and olive trees. The capers of Salina are renowned for their size and taste.

Santa Marina Salina

Salina is the only one of the Aeolian Islands which does not form part of the Lípari local authority; in fact it itself consists of three local parishes: Santa Marina Salina in the center of the east coast, at the southern end of which lies the Lingua district; Malfa, on a high plain on the north coast with the Pollara district; Leni in the valley between the high mountains, near the south coast, with the nearby Rinella district, a center for fishing and underwater sports.

Characteristic of these villages are the single-storied houses with terrace roofs and a vine bower supported on pillars.

Excursions on Salina

A 17km/10.5mile U-shaped road links the towns. Trips can be made to the two mountains and to the 1630 pilgrimage church of the Madonna del Terzitoin in the beautiful Valdichiesa west of Leni.

Leisure facilities

There are shingle beaches near Lingua and Santa Marina Salina as well as sandy ones near Rinella. Underwater sports are catered for near Pollara, at Punta to the north of Pollara, and in Rinella, where there are also "sconcassi", i.e. escapes of hydrogen sulfide. From Malfa a boat can be taken to the impressive natural arch near the Punta del Perciato and the Fraglione di Pollara, at the northwestern corner of the island.