Malfa: Culture and Coast

Malfa combines historic churches and places of remembrance with coastal scenery, festivals, and boat trips. If you are looking for a hotel in Malfa, you can plan your trip around whether you would most like to discover Pollara, the area’s history, or its events. For festival dates and bus trips, it’s advisable to check the relevant programme and timetable.

Churches, Film Locations, and Island History

The Chiesa di Sant’Onofrio in Pollara dates from 1853. A mural in the square in front of the church depicts Massimo Troisi and Pablo Neruda sitting side by side on a bench. In Pollara, Via Massimo Troisi also leads to places where scenes were filmed; a monument dedicated to Massimo Troisi stands along the way. The church, mural, and route offer different points of interest for anyone interested in local history and film locations.

The 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. A double staircase leads from the square to the church. The bus to Postino Beach departs from this square. In the centre of Malfa, the Chiesa dell’Immacolata overlooks the sea; the Chiesa di Sant’Anna dates from the 18th century.

The Museo Eoliano dell’Emigrazione is housed in the 19th-century Palazzo Marchetti. It focuses on the stories of thousands of people from the Aeolian Islands who left the islands over the centuries, mainly for Australia and the United States. The Spiaggia di Jalera is also a reminder of Malfa’s maritime past: historically, it was the town’s main harbour, where important trading activities took place. Old warehouses still stand there; they were used to shelter boats and fishermen and to store goods for trade.

Coastal Scenery and Boat Trips

The Spiaggia di Pollara lies below a semicircular white cliff, the remnant of the inner wall of a long-extinct volcano’s crater. The equipped viewpoint in Pollara offers a view over the bay. The Faraglione di Pollara is an uninhabited volcanic rock off the coast of the island of Salina, about 300 metres from shore and in the middle of the bay. Yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) and Scopoli’s shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) nest there. The natural Arco di Punta Perciato is also a distinctive coastal feature: the arch formed in the rock extends out over the sea.

The Spiaggia dello Scario consists mainly of stones and pebbles. A long staircase carved into the rock leads down to the beach; there are no visitor facilities there. As physical access conditions can change, check the condition of the stairs before your visit. Guided boat trips off Malfa include destinations such as Punta del Perciato and the Faraglione di Pollara. The Porto di Malfa now serves as a harbour for mooring and launching fishing boats and other boats; organised trips to other islands depart from Scalo Galera.

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Festa del Cappero takes place every year on the first Sunday in June in Piazza Sant’Onofrio in Pollara, a hamlet in the municipality of Malfa. The annual festival of Saint Onofrius includes a Mass and a procession through the streets of Pollara, accompanied by music and popular expressions of religious devotion. On 10 August, Malfa celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence with religious celebrations, processions, and community gatherings. Check the programme for the relevant year before travelling.

The Festa della Vendemmia takes place across Santa Marina Salina, Malfa, and Leni. Possible activities include guided wine tastings, tastings of local products, visits to vineyards and wineries, and themed workshops. Activities may vary from one edition to another, so check the current programme in advance.

Getting Around by Bus

CITIS buses connect Santa Marina, Malfa, and Leni. The route from Rinella to Lingua passes through Malfa and has branches to Pollara and Malfa Scalo. If you plan to use buses during your stay, check the timetable before travelling.

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For the main travel overview: Messina.