Il Postino in Salina: the film's locations in the Aeolian Islands and where to eat

Il Postino (The Postman), Massimo Troisi’s final film, made the island of Salina in the Aeolian archipelago immortal. Its pebble beaches, dry-stone walls and deep-blue sea are the backdrop to the friendship between the postman Mario and the poet Pablo Neruda. Here is the itinerary through the locations and the island’s flavours.

The film’s locations in Salina

The heart of filming is Pollara, a hamlet of the municipality of Malfa, on the western side of the island. Pollara beach, sheltered by high rock walls and facing the Faraglione stack, is where Mario and Neruda have their conversations. From here, the road climbing to the poet’s “red house” offers a view over the whole archipelago.

Where to eat in Salina

For a stop at the table, the Trattoria dell’Isola serves authentic Aeolian cuisine: fresh fish, Salina capers (among the finest in Italy), pane cunzato and the sweet Malvasia delle Lipari. Simple, intense flavours, just like the film’s island.

What to taste in the Aeolian Islands

Salina’s signature products are capers, Malvasia wine and seafood dishes. Also try pasta with wild fennel and the humble cuisine of oily fish. A weekend here is a dive into Mediterranean slowness.

You will find the connected stops on the Il postino page and the venues of Salina.

In short

Salina is Il Postino turned into an island: sea, poetry and honest cooking. Start from the Trattoria dell’Isola and let the flavours of the Aeolian Islands win you over.