Malfa: Pollara, Coast and Island Culture

Malfa showcases the island of Salina in many different ways: in Pollara, volcanic landscapes, film history and local festivals come together, while churches, museums and old harbor facilities tell stories of the past. This creates a destination for your travel planning where coast, culture, nature observation and culinary traditions can be combined.

Pollara between crater coast and sea

Spiaggia di Pollara lies below a semicircular white cliff. The inner side of the crater of a long-extinct volcano has been preserved there. From Pollara’s equipped viewpoint, you can look out over the bay. Off the coast of the island of Salina, the uninhabited volcanic rock Faraglione di Pollara lies about 300 meters from the shore in the middle of the bay. It is a nesting site for the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea).

Another stretch of coast is home to Spiaggia dello Scario in the municipality of Malfa. The beach, consisting mainly of stones and pebbles, is accessible via a long staircase carved into the rock and has no visitor facilities. Arco di Punta Perciato forms a natural arch created in the rock that extends into the sea. Guided boat trips off Malfa include visits to Punta del Perciato and Faraglione di Pollara. On Salina, diving is also among the possible experiences, including at the shallows off Capo di Pollara, Cappero and Martino.

Churches, museum and traces of film history

In the center of Malfa stands Chiesa dell’Immacolata, overlooking the sea. Chiesa di Sant’Anna dates from the 18th century. Chiesa di S. Lorenzo was first built in 1733 on the site of an earlier 17th-century building and rebuilt after suffering severe damage in the 1926 earthquake. It can be reached from the square via a double staircase; the bus to Postino Beach also departs from this square.

In Pollara, Chiesa di Sant’Onofrio dates from 1853. On the square in front of the church is a mural of Massimo Troisi and Pablo Neruda sitting on a bench. Via Massimo Troisi leads to locations where film scenes were shot; a monument dedicated to Massimo Troisi also stands along the route. The Museo Eoliano dell’Emigrazione in the 19th-century Palazzo Marchetti documents the history of thousands of Aeolians who left the islands over the centuries, mainly for Australia and the United States.

Harbor towns and festivals with local character

Spiaggia di Jalera was historically Malfa’s most important harbor, where the most significant commercial transactions took place. Old warehouses have been preserved there; they served as shelters for boats and fishermen and for storing commercial goods. Porto di Malfa is now a harbor for mooring and launching fishing boats and other boats. At the same time, it is a starting point for organized boat trips to the other islands.

The Feast of Saint Onuphrius takes place in Pollara, in the municipality of Malfa, and attracts worshippers and visitors every year. The focus is a mass and a procession through the streets of Pollara accompanied by music and popular religious devotion. Festa del Cappero is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in June in Piazza Sant’Onofrio in Pollara. On August 10, Malfa celebrates the Feast of Saint Lawrence with religious ceremonies, processions and communal gatherings.

Festa della Vendemmia also focuses on regional products. Visitors can take part in guided wine tastings and tastings of typical products, visits to vineyards and wineries, and themed workshops. The event is spread across Santa Marina Salina, Malfa and Leni. The CITIS bus network is also a practical point of reference when choosing your accommodation and starting point: the buses connect Santa Marina, Malfa and Leni. The route runs from Rinella to Lingua via Malfa and has branches to Pollara and Malfa Scalo.

More destinations for your travel planning

If you would like to compare Malfa with other places, you can also include Tortorici, Rodi Milici, Santa Marina Salina, Pettineo, Sant’Agata di Militello, San Cono, Tindari and Lipari in your search.

For the overarching travel overview: Messina.