Chasing the sun to a European summer is a favourite Australian pastime for good reason. For me, all roads led to Italy. To swim in the salty Mediterranean, enjoy aperitivo and graze on homemade Italian food was just the restorative tonic I needed. I hopped from Sardinia to Sicily, then on to the lesser-known, more humble island of Salina. Here, I discovered that a simpler, slower-paced lifestyle is sometimes all that is needed… besides the warm sun and a day bed, of course.

Salina is one of seven charming ‘sisters’ of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the archipelago also includes Lipari, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea and Stromboli, which all have their own unique forms (two of the islands are active volcanoes) and offer endless crystal-blue water for swimming, verdant mountain trails and coastal walks, mouthwatering cuisine and luscious wines. With so many activities and gastronomic offerings, you’d think the islands would be more high profile, yet they remain a relatively low-key Italian destination. The ancient Greek name for Salina, ‘Didyme’ (meaning ‘twins’), refers to the two (now extinct) volcanoes that hover over its sleepy coastal towns. The island’s modern name derives from saline – its salt flats. The second-largest isle in the archipelago, Salina is the most beguiling, boasting bountiful landscapes of olive groves and grape vines, all fed by natural freshwater springs. Nature is more or less unspoilt, and once you arrive, you get an instant sense of tranquillity among the island’s inhabitants.

That tranquillity is partly thanks to the fact Salina isn’t your average Italian tourist stop. A handful of luxury hotels on the island are accompanied by a modest number of restaurants, wineries, spas and boutiques, all with a certain rustic charm. The stylish yet unpretentious familyowned Principe di Salina (Via Nazionale, 3, Malfa; principedisalina.it) is a whitewashed mountainside oasis with breathtaking views across the sea, making it the most idyllic spot for a sun-kissed holiday. Situated near the town of Malfa, the hotel was built 10 years ago and completely renovated and re-styled in 2017.

The graceful arching roofs and white linen blowing in the breeze make it almost resemble a Greek island escape. Spread across four levels, with extensive common areas, its 12 rooms feature private terraces overlooking the mesmerising Mediterranean. Beautifully understated and downright dreamy, you can simply sit, staring out to sea and the other Aeolian islands for hours, feeling a million miles away from everything else.

Further relaxation can be had by the infinity pool, sipping on freshly made juice or an aperitif as the sun sinks below the horizon. For more solid sustenance, join the hotel’s other house guests for an elegant long-table dinner at Ristorante della casa, where the daily menu, cooked by host and chef Silvana, showcases the very best of traditional Aeolian food. Perhaps one of the most famous ingredients produced in Salina is capers, and they feature heavily in many dishes. In fact, they are so revered, locals hold an annual festival in their honour.

Just a short stroll from the hotel through narrow lanes takes you to Malfa’s shops. Besides the wild bougainvillea and cacti, you’ll pass backyard grape and olive vineyards, countless bulbs of cherry tomatoes hung up to dry and branches heavy with young figs, and witness the delightful day-to-day activities of the locals that will bring a smile to your face (like a man whistling and singing happily as he picked fresh capers from in front of his house). In town, pick up locally designed tiles and exquisite ceramics – an absolute must are the ceramic Moorish heads that dot balconies across Sicily. Eclectic homewares and lifestyle store Shanti (Via Scalo, 31) sells beautiful textiles, clothing and jewellery, perfect for gifts to take home.

Also in the Malfa region are a handful of wineries that offer tastings of the locally grown – and very popular – dessert wine Malvasia. Capofaro (Via Faro, 3, Malfa; capofaro.it/en), run by the Tasca d’Almerita family, is the largest and most well-known on the island. Not sure which drops are worthy of taking home? A sommelier will talk you through local and Sicilian varieties.

Capofaro’s estate is also home to the only five-star hotel on the island and has recently opened six new suites in the property’s on-site lighthouse. It’s without doubt one of the most grand and polished accommodations on Salina, and aperitivo at Capofaro is a must. The restaurant’s terrace opens up to the sea with a view of Panarea and Stromboli, where the active volcano’s lava activity is at its most spectacular at night. Panoramic trekking paths stretch over and around the island, leading to incredible viewpoints or volcanic-sand beaches. The sheer cliff faces are epic, and exploring Salina by sea will give you even more perspective of their scale. Secret coves, tiny villages (some with intriguing pasts) and various diving points for snorkelling are dotted around the island. The tiny town of Pollara, for instance, is where classic Italian film Il Postino was filmed.

After your adventures, it’s worth visiting the spa at the charming Hotel Signum (via Scalo, 15, Malfa; hotelsignum.it). In this enchanting property framed by lemon trees and featuring Sicilian tiles, you can indulge in a massage or treatments using salt collected from the island’s natural surrounds. Dining at Signum is also an experience not to be missed, whether it be a delicate degustation or a la carte. In this Michelin-starred restaurant, every meal from chef Martina Caruso tells a story from Aeolian cuisine. Salina guarantees absolute relaxation to help you ‘rediscover yourself’. Living the Italian island good life, with endless sunshine and sea as the backdrop, delivers the kind of laid-back luxury so many dream of and travel the world to experience. Coupled with genuine warmth and enthusiastic hospitality from the locals, time on Salina will completely charm you. I promise you will leave wanting to return again.