Hotel Signum
Family-run Aeolian farmhouse meets boutique luxury. Shabby chic with real soul — cracked plaster, sun-faded colors, mature cacti, lizards in the stone walls. Not corporate at all. The Caruso family runs everything.
Book the Corbezzolo Suite if you want the room where Massimo Troisi stayed during the filming of Il Postino — it has an antique cast-iron bathtub and small French balconies over the Gulf of Malfa
Why It Matters
Houses one of Sicily's most celebrated restaurants: Martina Caruso earned her Michelin star in 2016 (Italy's youngest female starred chef at the time) and won the Veuve Clicquot Best Female Chef award in 2019. The hotel holds a Michelin Key distinction and a Green Michelin Star (sustainability). The geothermal spa draws on genuine volcanic heritage — hydrotherapy pools fed by natural springs, a tholos-shaped steam bath modeled on a 3,500-year-old thermal structure excavated on Lipari.
Hotel Signum started life in 1988 when Clara Rametta and Michele Caruso decided to restore some old ruins on Salina, the greenest of the Aeolian Islands. What they built is somewhere between a boutique hotel and an Aeolian farmhouse — white walls, antique furnishings, terraces dripping with bougainvillea, and a genuine family warmth that doesn't feel manufactured. The big draw today is daughter Martina Caruso, who runs the Michelin-starred restaurant and became Italy's youngest Michelin-starred chef when she earned her star in 2016. But even without the food, the geothermal spa and infinity pool views out to Stromboli would make this worth the ferry.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Deluxe Room
At around 26 sqm, these are noticeably airier than the Superiors, and the big difference is the views. Deluxe rooms are in the main building — some have French balconies framing Panarea and Stromboli directly, others open onto a furnished terrace with direct or partial sea views. The design feels more composed: wrought iron beds are paired with vintage armchairs, poufs, and writing desks. Bathrooms feature stone, resin, and majolica inserts with oversized showers; some have a bathtub too.
26 sqm
Executive Room
The Executive tier sits between Deluxe and Suites, positioned in an exclusive part of the property with an emphasis on privacy and charm. Details beyond the category designation are not fully specified on the official site, but the positioning is described as 'Charm and Intimacy in an Exclusive Property Location.'
Suite
Four named suites in the main building, each around 40 sqm with two independent areas: a small living room with sofa bed/desk and a separate bedroom. Named after plants — Corbezzolo, Erica, Fitolacca, Acanto. The interiors are a curated collection of antiques and vintage pieces. The Corbezzolo is notable for hosting Massimo Troisi during the filming of Il Postino; it has an antique cast-iron bathtub and two small French balconies overlooking the Gulf of Malfa. The Acanto is the most spacious and has access to two terraces, one by the pool. All can sleep up to four.
40 sqm
Superior Room
The entry-level option, and honestly not a bad one. About 20 sqm, decorated in Aeolian style with tiled floors, wrought iron beds, and antique furniture. Some sit in the lemon grove alongside the main building, others overlook the infinity pool, others are tucked into the garden. Several can accommodate family configurations with an extra bed or cot. Bathrooms are typically masonry or period-furnished — some entirely stone, others with vintage fittings. Note that Superior rooms are on the smaller side, which matters if you're planning to spend time indoors.
20 sqmVilla Suite
Three standalone villa suites in a private area of the property, converted from the original farmhouse buildings with their beamed ceilings and stone architecture carefully preserved. These are genuine mini-apartments — 55 to 70 sqm with two rooms each. Classic Sicilian and Aeolian furnishings are mixed with European déco-era pieces collected by the owners. Each has a bathtub. Suite #17 Caprifoglio (55 sqm) has the only large private garden in the property plus a terrace with Gulf of Malfa views. Suite #21 Elicriso (70 sqm) has a Roman-style bathroom with overflow tub and an ancient Aeolian kitchen element. Suite #26 Ginestra (60 sqm) is the panoramic standout, with a full-length private terrace overlooking Malfa and the entire gulf.
60 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A hands-on session in the Signum restaurant kitchen with Michelin-starred chef Martina Caruso. Participants put on aprons, work with island-sourced raw ingredients, and cook five traditional Sicilian and Aeolian recipes. Starts at 11:30am, followed by a lunch of the dishes made during the class. Water, cover charge, and local wine included.
Salina's two extinct volcanoes (Monte Fossa delle Felci and Monte dei Porri) can be hiked from the island. The hotel concierge can advise on routes and arrange guides.
The hotel's infinity pool appears to merge with the sea on the horizon, with views directly toward Panarea and Stromboli. A solarium terrace surrounds the pool. This is a guest-only amenity.
The hotel can organise visits to local Salina wine cellars, where guests taste the island's famous Malvasia wines and artisanal products. The hotel's own cellar also holds over 1,200 labels with Salina wines well represented.
The hotel concierge arranges private and shared boat excursions around the Aeolian archipelago — to Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli, and beyond. Staff can connect guests with vetted local captains who provide snorkeling gear and cook lunch on board.
Diving excursions around Salina's clear waters can be arranged via the hotel concierge.
An after-dark version of the geothermal spa experience — using the thalassotherapy pools, steam bath, and hydrotherapy facilities under the stars. A separately bookable experience from standard spa hours.
The hotel arranges Vespa hire for independent island exploration. Scooter is the classic Salina transport — the cliff roads between Malfa and Santa Marina are particularly scenic.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
A downstairs library room with books, wooden tables, and sofas — good for a quiet read or a few hours of work.
A morning spread of local fresh fruit, pastries, and eggs served on the main pergola terrace.
The hotel hosts weddings in its terrace and garden settings.
The concierge team is consistently praised in guest reviews for arranging excursions, transfers, and personalized island recommendations.
Open-air infinity pool with views toward Panarea and Stromboli. Surrounded by a solarium terrace.
On-site shop selling Signum-branded spa products, local olive oils, and island ingredients. Also available online.
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