Page 238 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

By ferry and hydrofoil All boats dock at San Pietro harbour, where the Siremar (
090 983 007) and Ustica Lines ( 090 983 344) ticket offices are almost next door to
each other. The services detailed here are year-round; schedules increase during the
summer months.

Ferry destinations Ginostra (2 weekly; 1hr 40min); Lipari (2 weekly; 1hr); Milazzo
(2 weekly; 3hr 40min); Naples (12hr 15min); Stromboli (2 weekly; 1hr); Vulcano (2
weekly; 1hr 40min).

Hydrofoil destinations Ginostra (2 daily; 25min); Lipari (4 daily; 50min); Milazzo (4
daily; 1hr 40min); Rinella (1 daily; 35min); Santa Marina Salina (2 daily; 25min);
Stromboli (2 daily; 35min); Vulcano (4 daily; 1hr 20min).

By helicopter If they don’t have their own yacht, celebs use Air Panarea’s helicopter
service ( 090 983 4428 or 340 366 7214, airpanarea.com), which runs a

summer scheduled service from Reggio di Calabria airport (from €200 one-way), plus
panoramic fly-overs of Stromboli and the other islands.

INFORMATION

Tourist information Although there’s no tourist office, you can get information at

panarea.com (in Italian), which has links to a few hotels and rooms places.

Services San Pietro has a pharmacy, an ATM and a summer-only police post and
guardia medica, while in the warren of alleys behind the harbour is a little
supermarket, two or three alimentari and a bakery. The little electric buggies down at
the harbour act as taxis. However, all the hotels provide a free pick-up service.

ACCOMMODATION

Lisca Bianca Via Lani, San Pietro 090 983 004, liscabianca.it. This typical
Aeolian building – covered wide terraces, blue shutters, white walls – has some
gorgeous views, with stylish rooms overlooking either the sea or the bougainvillea-

clad gardens and port. You can see Stromboli from the breakfast terrace, and the bar is
one of the best on the island. If you can avoid August, prices aren’t too bad at all;
check the website for deals. Closed Nov–March. €210

Pippo and Maria Soldini Via Iditella, Iditella 090 983 061 or 334 703 5010. Up
the hill behind the port in Iditella, beyond the Carabinieri barracks, the rooms here are
one of the least expensive places to stay on Panarea. They are spotlessly clean, have

their own terraces, are set in a garden, and out of season owners Pippo and Maria will
cook for you. €90

Quartara Via San Pietro, San Pietro 090 983 027, quartarahotel.com. Very
classy four-star boutique hotel run by a cheerful family, whose thirteen fashionable