Capofaro Resort sits on the north-east coast of Salina, the greenest of the Aeolian Islands, in a garden of Malvasia vines that runs down to a 19th-century lighthouse and the sea. For two decades it was known as Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia, the island hotel of the Sicilian wine family Tasca d’Almerita. The family sold it at the end of 2024, and it now trades as Capofaro Resort under the Licitra family, still a Relais & Châteaux member. My one-line verdict: arguably one of the most romantic small hotels in the Aeolians, but go for the vines, the view of Stromboli and the silence, and confirm the details that changed with the new owners before you book.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Quick facts: Capofaro Resort, Salina
- Location: Via Faro 3, between Santa Marina Salina and Malfa, on the north-east coast of Salina, Aeolian Islands, province of Messina.
- Formerly: Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia by Tasca d’Almerita. Sold in late 2024 to Giovanni Carlo Licitra; Tasca d’Almerita kept the vineyards and still makes the Capofaro wines.
- Rooms and suites: between 23 and 27 depending on the source (the hotel’s own website says 25 in nine categories), several of them in the lighthouse.
- Price level: high, in line with other Relais & Châteaux houses in Sicily, and highest in July and August.
- Season: seasonal. The restaurant is listed as closed from 25 October 2026 to 15 April 2027, so expect the hotel to run from about mid-April to late October. Ask the hotel for exact dates.
- Nearest airport: Catania, then about 90 minutes by car to Milazzo and about 90 minutes by hydrofoil to Salina.
- Best for: couples, wine lovers and slow travellers who want a quiet island base.
Check prices and availability
With only around two dozen rooms and a short season, the lighthouse suites and sea view rooms go early for June to September. Compare dates before you lock in ferries.
What changed: from Tasca d’Almerita to the Licitra family
If you read older reviews, you will find this hotel described as the Tasca d’Almerita wine resort, and much of that history is still visible. The family bought the estate in 2001, restored the old buildings and the lighthouse and planted the Malvasia vineyards that made its name. In November 2024 Tasca d’Almerita announced that it had sold the resort to Giovanni Carlo Licitra, a Ragusa entrepreneur best known for the carob flour company LBG Sicilia Ingredients.
The important detail for wine lovers: Tasca kept the roughly 6.5 hectares of vines and continues to make its Salina Malvasia wines, Capofaro, Didyme and Vigna di Paola. The vineyards still surround the hotel, but the hotel and the winery are now separate businesses. Guest reviews from summer 2026 mention improvements to the garden and vineyard paths. Below, I flag which details the current hotel website confirms and which it does not.
Location and getting there
Capofaro lies on a gentle slope on the north-east side of Salina, between the port of Santa Marina and the village of Malfa. The rooms and terraces look out across the vines to the sea, with Panarea and the smoking cone of Stromboli on the horizon. The resort has no beach of its own; the hotel’s website mentions an affiliated beach club, and older listings describe a small pebble beach a walk or short shuttle ride away. Ask the hotel how beach access works on your dates.
Salina is not a quick hop, and that is part of its appeal. The usual route is:
- Fly to Catania: the main gateway for the Aeolians. From the airport to the port of Milazzo is about 90 minutes by car, according to Relais & Châteaux.
- Hydrofoil from Milazzo: about 90 minutes to Santa Marina Salina, with several sailings a day in season. Slow car ferries take much longer.
- Port pick-up: the resort shuttle meets guests at the port. Confirm the cost and timing when you book.
- Alternatives: Palermo works too, with a longer drive to Milazzo, and some summer hydrofoils run from Palermo and Naples. Check current timetables, as they change every season.
Avoid tight connections, as hydrofoils can be cancelled in rough seas. Our guide to where to stay in the Aeolian Islands explains how Salina compares with Lipari, Panarea and Vulcano as a base.
Rooms and suites
Room counts for Capofaro do not agree. Our research turned up contradictory information here: the hotel’s own website says 25 rooms in nine categories, Relais & Châteaux lists 23, and press reports at the time of the 2024 sale gave 27. It was not clear to us which applies today, so if numbers matter (for a wedding or group booking), confirm with the hotel.
The current categories published by the hotel are:
- Classic Room and Superior Room: the entry categories in the main estate buildings, whitewashed in the Aeolian style.
- Room 20 and Suite 21: individually named units, worth asking about for their exact outlook.
- Junior Suite and Suite Anfiteatro: larger options on the estate.
- Superior Faro, Suite Faro and Grand Suite Faro: the lighthouse rooms, which most guests ask for first. Press reports at the time of the sale described six suites in the restored 19th-century lighthouse.
Rooms are spread across low white buildings among the vines, and Relais & Châteaux notes that each has a terrace with a sea or mountain view. The style is island simple rather than grand. Room sizes are not published consistently, so ask the hotel about layouts and extra beds.
Dining
The kitchen is led by chef and maître de maison Matteo Manco, who combines his roots in Salento, in Puglia, with Sicilian and Aeolian produce. Relais & Châteaux lists the restaurant as Sira Ristorante Capofaro, Sira meaning “this evening” in Sicilian, open daily for lunch and dinner in season. The hotel’s own website, however, simply refers to its restaurant and bar without using that name, so do not be surprised if the name you see on site differs. The cooking draws on vegetables and herbs from the estate garden and on the day’s catch, and guest reviews from 2026 describe it as noticeably improved.
- Restaurant: lunch and dinner with a terrace facing the sea and the sunset side of the vines.
- Malvasia: the Tasca d’Almerita wines from the surrounding vineyards, plus the wider Sicilian list. Ask the hotel which estate wines are poured by the glass this season.
On Michelin: Capofaro’s restaurant does not hold a Michelin star in the 2026 guide. If you want a starred dinner, the Signum hotel restaurant in Malfa, run by chef Martina Caruso, holds one star in the 2026 guide and is a short drive away. Book it well ahead in summer.
Check rates at Capofaro Resort
Spa, wellness and pool
Do not book Capofaro for a big spa. The current hotel website talks about massages, restorative treatments and yoga sessions, along with a small open-air gym and a secret garden, but it does not name a spa. Relais & Châteaux lists a spa and well-being area, and older travel listings, including our own earlier research, describe a small spa with a massage pavilion. Ask the hotel what is available on your dates.
- Pool: one outdoor pool among the vines, listed by Relais & Châteaux as unheated. Expect cool water in April and May.
- Treatments: massages and treatments, book on arrival or before you travel in high season.
- Yoga: sessions are listed by the hotel; ask for the weekly schedule.
Sport and activities
Tennis and padel: confirm before you pack racquets
Capofaro appears in our guide to tennis hotels in Sicily because our earlier research and several booking and travel sites list a hard tennis court on the grounds, and some also mention a padel court. The current official website, however, mentions neither. Our research turned up contradictory information here, and it was not clear to us whether the court is still in use under the new owners. If tennis is the point of your trip, email the hotel and ask for confirmation of court availability, surface and racquet hire before you book.
Wine
The vines are the soul of the place. Salina’s Malvasia, grown on volcanic soil and often sun-dried for sweet passito, is arguably one of Italy’s most distinctive whites. The hotel lists wine tasting among its experiences; since Tasca d’Almerita now runs the vineyards separately, ask the hotel whether tastings include a walk in the vines or a visit with the winemaking team. Our Sicilian wine guide places Malvasia delle Lipari in the context of Etna, Marsala and the rest of the island.
Boats and the sea
The hotel offers private boat tours. A day on the water is the best way to see Panarea, Stromboli and the cliffs at Pollara. Read our coastal guide to the best yacht spots in Sicily for ideas, and book boats a few days ahead in August.
What’s nearby
- Malfa: the closest village, with caper fields, small bars and the starred Signum restaurant.
- Pollara: a dramatic half-crater bay on the west coast, famous as a location in the film Il Postino. Best at sunset.
- Other islands: Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli and Vulcano are all reachable by hydrofoil or private boat for day trips.
Capofaro Resort vs other Sicilian boutique hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capofaro Resort | Salina, Aeolian Islands | Lighthouse suites in Malvasia vines, view of Stromboli | Couples, island slow travel |
| Monaci delle Terre Nere | Zafferana Etnea, Mount Etna | Relais & Châteaux estate on the volcano, one Michelin Key | Wine lovers who want Etna and Taormina |
| Grand Hotel Timeo | Taormina | Next to the Greek Theatre, Michelin-starred Otto Geleng | Food lovers, first-time Sicily visitors |
| Verdura Resort | Sciacca, south-west coast | Golf, six red clay tennis courts, big spa | Active travellers and families |
In short: Capofaro is the choice for an island escape among the vines. Our Monaci delle Terre Nere review covers the volcano-and-wine alternative on the mainland, and if guaranteed tennis matters more than the setting, Verdura is the safer bet (read our Verdura Resort review).
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Couples looking for a quiet, romantic base with sea views and sunsets.
- Wine lovers curious about Malvasia and volcanic island viticulture.
- Island hoppers who want one calm base for boat days to Panarea and Stromboli.
It does not suit:
- Travellers who want a large spa or several pools.
- Anyone who needs a sandy beach on the doorstep.
- Tennis players who cannot risk the court being unavailable.
- Short trips: with flights, a drive and a hydrofoil, two nights is rarely worth it.
Charlotte’s tip: ask for the lighthouse, then stay four nights
Request one of the Faro rooms and stay at least four nights. The journey eats into the first and last days, and Salina only reveals itself once you slow down. Go in June or September, when the sea is warm and the island is calm.
Practical tips
- Booking: book the room first, then hydrofoils, then boat days and treatments. Summer weekends sell out early.
- Best rooms to request: Suite Faro or Grand Suite Faro in the lighthouse, or Suite Anfiteatro for space. Ask for a sea-facing terrace.
- Season: roughly mid-April to late October. The hotel closes in winter, so confirm opening dates for 2027 directly.
- Dress: relaxed island style by day, smart casual for dinner. Pack sturdy shoes for walking and water shoes for pebble beaches.
- Kids: children have been welcome in the past, but the atmosphere is calm and adult. Ask the hotel about its current policy and family rooms.
- Name check: some booking sites still list the hotel as Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia. It is the same property.
Check prices and availability
Compare the lighthouse rooms with the estate rooms, and check whether your rate includes breakfast and the port transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Capofaro still owned by Tasca d’Almerita?
No. Tasca d’Almerita sold the resort in late 2024 to Giovanni Carlo Licitra, and it now trades as Capofaro Resort. Tasca kept the vineyards and still produces the Capofaro Malvasia wines.
Does Capofaro Resort have a tennis court?
Older listings and booking sites mention a hard court and a padel court, but the current hotel website does not. Confirm with the hotel before you travel.
Is Capofaro open all year?
No. It is a seasonal hotel, roughly from mid-April to late October. Relais & Châteaux lists the restaurant as closed from 25 October 2026 to 15 April 2027.
How do I get to Capofaro from Catania airport?
Drive or take a transfer to Milazzo, about 90 minutes, then a hydrofoil to Santa Marina Salina, about 90 minutes. The resort shuttle meets guests at the port.
