Page 226 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

GETTING AROUND

By bus The bus stop for Lingua is by the Siremar office; buses to Malfa, Rinella and
Pollara stop on the other side of the piazza, right by the port, opposite the La Cambusa
bar. Buses cover all points on the island; departures to all destinations are roughly

every 90min, hourly in summer, and you pay on board. In winter you may have a
lengthy wait in Malfa, the island hub, for an onward connection to Pollara or to Leni
and Rinella.

By bike, moped and car Nino Bongiorno, Via Risorgimento 222 ( 090 9843 409,
rentbongiorno.it), at the beginning of the road to Lingua, rents bikes, mopeds and cars.

Boat tours Booths in the piazza by the port sell tickets for half-day cruises around the
island (€25 per person), as well as day-trips further afield to Panarea and Stromboli,
Filicudi and Alicudi, and Lipari and Vulcano (from €45 per person), all with plenty of
chances for swimming and sightseeing stops.

ACCOMMODATION

I Cinque Balconi Via Risorgimento 38 090 094 3508, icinquebalconi.it. Simple
rooms in a nineteenth-century townhouse on Santa Marina’s pedestrianized shopping
street, whose most striking feature is the subtle, carefully preserved original floor
tiles. Behind the hotel, you can while away afternoons in an enchanting secluded
garden, shaded by citrus and fig trees. There are eight rooms, several with sea views,

and in the evenings aperitivo is served at tables on the street outside. €150

Mamma Santina Via Sanità 090 984 3054, mammasantina.it. The affable
Mario presides over a highly personal, boutique-style restaurant-with-rooms, set on
wide terraces above the town. The sixteen rooms are in bright seaside colours, with
gorgeous Mediterranean tile floors and big bathrooms with walk-in showers, while
guests can lounge in hammocks or around the pool. Call to be picked up from the port,
or follow the signposts off Via Risorgimento (after no. 66). Closed mid-Dec to mid-

March. €250

Mercanti di Mare Piazza Santa Marina 7 090 984 3536, hotelmercantidimare.it.
Harbourfront three-star hotel with nine white, airy rooms and an attractive terrace
overlooking the water. €200

Da Sabina Via Risorgimento 5c 090 984 3134 or 333 272 6025, bbsalina.it.
Classy B&B at the far end of the village from the port, a 10min walk from the centre.

Three smart en-suite rooms open onto a big sea-view terrace, where breakfast is
served. No credit cards. €140

EATING AND DRINKING