The best way to Italy’s Salina Island

THE BEST WAY TO ITALY’S SALINA ISLAND

From LAX, connecting service (change of planes) to Catania on Sicily is offered on Swiss, Air France, Lufthansa, Air France, US Airways and United. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $604.

Salina can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples, Palermo, Messina and Milazzo. The trip from Milazzo is the shortest, taking about 90 minutes, and costs about $25 one way (though rates and schedules vary). For information contact Ustica, https://www.usticalines.it, or Siremar, https://www.siremar.it.

TELEPHONES

To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 39 (country code for Italy) and the local number.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel L’Ariana, 090-98-09-075, https://www.hotelariana.it, is a guesthouse in a marvelous old villa overlooking the port of Rinella. Standard doubles from $148, including breakfast.

Hotel Punta Scario, 090-98-44-139, https://www.hotelpuntascario.it, is a simple and charming place at the edge of the cliff in Malfa. All 17 rooms have sea views. There is no pool, but Punta Scario beach is a 10-minute walk down the hill. Doubles from $121, including breakfast.

Hotel Signum, 090-98-44-222, https://www.hotelsignum.it, is one of my favorite hotels in the world, in Malfa above the beautiful shingle beach at Punta Scario. Small, stylish and unostentatious, it has a terrific restaurant, infinity pool and spa. Doubles from $175, including breakfast.

La Salina Borgo di Mare, 090-98-43-441, https://www.lasalinahotel.com, is a manicured vacation village near the salt flats and lighthouse of Lingua. Doubles $175, including breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT

The restaurant at the Hotel Signum (see above) is one of the best on the island; specialties include fresh fish, pasta and risotto; three-course dinner about $50 per person, not including wine.

Da Alfredo, Piazza Marina Garibaldi, 090-98-43-075, is a Salina institution in the hamlet of Lingua, famous for fresh fruit granitas and gigantic pane cunzato sandwiches stuffed with tuna, tomatoes, capers, mozzarella and other Italian delicacies; about $10 for a light meal.

‘nni Lausta, 188 Via Risorgimento, 090-984-34-86, https://www.isolasalina.com, offers Salina-style nouvelle cuisine on the main street in the port of Santa Marina Salina; three-course dinner about $50 per person, not including wine.

TO LEARN MORE

Italian Government Tourist Board, https://www.italiantourism.com.