Just 5 minutes from the center of Malfa, Salina's largest village, is Spiaggia dello Scario, or Scario beach. It's said that this Aeolian beach located on the island off the north coast of Sicily is where sailors used to dock their ships back in the day before trading with the locals. This hidden, pebbly beach embodies the Italian way of il dolce fare niente.
The lead up is breathtaking, with towering volcanic rock hugging the road around the point that opens up to the pebbly beach. From above, Spiaggia dello Scario is perfectly framed by wildflowers as bathers lounge on air beds and water mattresses. The score to this indolent scene as you make your way down is a chorus of crickets and the lazy conversations of a summer in Italy.
Once at the bottom, you will find a beach bar called Bar Maracaibo tucked away in the back of the pebble beach. The place only accepts walk ins. Prices are very affordable starting at 4 euro for a sandwich and 7 euro for a salad. They also serve great granitàs and cocktails. Pat and I got a table with a view. I ordered a simple Aeolian tuna salad, with the island specialty of course—capers. Pat ordered a Vulcano panino. Both very good and satisfying, especially for the price.
On the way down to the Spiaggia dello Scario, we purchased a little post-lunch dessert from a local pastry shop in Malfa called Pasticceria "Barrano." The bakery has been around since 2013, but the owner Giancarlo Barrano has been a professional pastry chef since 1982. We got a pistachio cream filled pastry (pictured a little further down).
Spend the afternoon enjoying the beach. Because Spiaggia dello Scario is pebbly, you can choose to double up on towels (bring your own from the hotel!) or rent an inflatable mattress from the beach bar to cushion the experience. Plus, you can use the mattress to float around in the water as well! The area gets shady around mid-afternoon so bring a wide-brimmed hat for mornings and mid-day. You can also rent umbrellas, SUPs, and kayaks from Bar Maracaibo if you want to explore the area further.
TIP:
Remember to bring water shoes and snorkeling gear.
