Santa Flavia
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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The town of Santa Flavia is one of the prettiest in Sicily, yet somehow manages to escape notoriety in the typical guide books of the island, consequently remaining relatively undiscovered.
This is perhaps because it's slightly hard to define, and some people don't call it Santa Flavia anyway. The official comune (local borough) is split into two distinct areas that are separated by the harbour area of Porticello. Either side of Porticello are Santa Flavia's mainly residential area, but of more note, its main beach and little inlet known as Punta Sant'Elia. |
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Santa Flavia is situated 17 kilometres east of the capital Palermo, a drive of around 40 minutes. It sits on a pretty peninsula where the 376 metre high Monte Catalfano dominates the landscape, looming over the Capo Zafferano promontory. Just behind Santa Flavia, in the landward hills overlooking the town is the ancient archaeological site of Solus, otherwise known as Soluntum.
Of most interest to tourists however, is the area around Punta Sant'Elia. You can easily get lost trying to navigate your way around the narrow lanes that surround the seaside houses but any temporary sense of disorientation is wiped away as soon as you reach the little inlet. A narrow strip of shallow, crystalline water is hemmed in on both sides by steep rocks, around which a series of houses are built. This is a bather's paradise during the summer, the perfect place to keep cool under the hot Sicilian sun, amongst some of the island's most dazzling scenery.
Although really quite small, the area around Punta Sant'Elia is great for exploring; you can clamber over the rocks at one end of the inlet to get a completely new perspective, then once you've had enough of that you can relax on the main beach. Dominated by fishing boats during the winter months, the summer sees a hive of activity here with locals taking the chance to enjoy the clear blue water and the quintessentially southern-Italian surroundings.
As yet, Santa Flavia has escaped mass tourism and retains a genuine, local culture that is hard to find in equivalent tourist hot-spots. Hotel options are few but there are enough restaurants and shops behind the beach to make a longer stay comfortable. There's also a large car park just a short walk from the main beach.
Around a kilometre south of Punta Sant'Elia, a walk of 15 minutes or so, lies another area of great interest: Porticello. Although Santa Flavia is the main town here and Punta Sant'Elia its main attraction, many guide books will talk about Porticello instead. The main sight here is the pretty little harbour with a few restaurants and dominated by fishing boats. The lungomare (promenade) stretches south to a slightly larger harbour before turning into a more residential area.
Santa Flavia represents a great option for a day out if you're staying in Palermo. From Palermo Centrale train station it's just a 21 minute journey to Santa Flavia. The stop before Santa Flavia is Bagheria, the main town on the little peninsula and famous for its Villa Palagonia.
Of most interest to tourists however, is the area around Punta Sant'Elia. You can easily get lost trying to navigate your way around the narrow lanes that surround the seaside houses but any temporary sense of disorientation is wiped away as soon as you reach the little inlet. A narrow strip of shallow, crystalline water is hemmed in on both sides by steep rocks, around which a series of houses are built. This is a bather's paradise during the summer, the perfect place to keep cool under the hot Sicilian sun, amongst some of the island's most dazzling scenery.
Although really quite small, the area around Punta Sant'Elia is great for exploring; you can clamber over the rocks at one end of the inlet to get a completely new perspective, then once you've had enough of that you can relax on the main beach. Dominated by fishing boats during the winter months, the summer sees a hive of activity here with locals taking the chance to enjoy the clear blue water and the quintessentially southern-Italian surroundings.
As yet, Santa Flavia has escaped mass tourism and retains a genuine, local culture that is hard to find in equivalent tourist hot-spots. Hotel options are few but there are enough restaurants and shops behind the beach to make a longer stay comfortable. There's also a large car park just a short walk from the main beach.
Around a kilometre south of Punta Sant'Elia, a walk of 15 minutes or so, lies another area of great interest: Porticello. Although Santa Flavia is the main town here and Punta Sant'Elia its main attraction, many guide books will talk about Porticello instead. The main sight here is the pretty little harbour with a few restaurants and dominated by fishing boats. The lungomare (promenade) stretches south to a slightly larger harbour before turning into a more residential area.
Santa Flavia represents a great option for a day out if you're staying in Palermo. From Palermo Centrale train station it's just a 21 minute journey to Santa Flavia. The stop before Santa Flavia is Bagheria, the main town on the little peninsula and famous for its Villa Palagonia.
Comune di Santa Flavia
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Province: Metropolitan City of Palermo
Region: Sicily Population: 10,999 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 14 km² Highlights: Punta Sant'Elia, Porticello, beaches Close by: Palermo, Monreale Cathedral, Mondello, Cefalù Recommended accommodation: Hotel Sporting Club (9 km) |
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