Oliveri Destination in Sicily · Province of Messina

Oliveri is a small seaside town in the Province of Messina on the north coast of Sicily, set in a sheltered bay between Capo Calavà and Capo Milazzo. People come for the beach and for quiet days by the water. The lagoons of Marinello begin about 500 meters from the town center, and the ancient city of Tindari is close by.

Where Oliveri lies and how to get there

The town sits between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the mountains behind it. Its bay is protected. There are narrow streets and small squares in town, with the beach and coastline right in front of them.

The train is an easy way in. All local trains stop at Oliveri-Tindari station, and long-distance trains stop at Patti and Milazzo.

Oliveri-Marinello and the lagoons

The Oliveri-Marinello district, about 500 meters from the center, is purely a beach resort. It has several beach bars, restaurants and playgrounds, and it gives direct access to the Laghetti di Marinello, a nature reserve with a sandy beach and lagoons.

The lagoons are good for swimming and surfing, and there is a surf school on site. Away from the beach bars, the reserve suits visitors who mostly want quiet and nature.

Tindari: the theater and the sanctuary

The ancient city of Tindari is near Oliveri. Its ruins include the ancient Theater of Tindari, with wide views along the coast.

Close by stands the Santuario di Tindari, a pilgrimage church dedicated to the Black Madonna. Visitors come for its architecture and its religious treasures.

Day trips from Oliveri

The Aeolian Islands lie just offshore. In summer, boats leave from Oliveri itself. The rest of the year they sail from Patti or Milazzo. Vulcano, Stromboli and Lipari are among the islands you can visit on a boat tour.

On the main island, Oliveri works as a base for trips east to Taormina, the Gorges of Alcantara and Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe at over 3,300 m. Heading west along the north coast, you reach Cefalù and Palermo.

When to go

Climate data for the north coast (measured near Palermo) gives a fair guide. The sea is around 24 °C (75 °F) in June and 27–28 °C (81–82 °F) in July and August, when daytime highs reach about 30 °C (86 °F). In September the water stays near 26 °C (79 °F) with highs of about 27 °C (80 °F). By October, air and sea are both around 23–24 °C (73–75 °F).

May and October are good months for Tindari and longer outings, with highs around 23 °C (73 °F). In May the sea is still cool at about 20 °C (68 °F). In January, highs are about 14 °C (57 °F) and the sea about 16 °C (61 °F).

Who Oliveri suits

• Families: Marinello has a sandy beach, playgrounds and restaurants close together, and the town center is about 500 meters away.
• Surfers: The Marinello lagoons are used for surfing, and there is a surf school on site.
• Anyone after a slow pace: The Laghetti reserve and the sheltered bay suit unhurried days by the water.
• Explorers: Tindari is next door, and in summer, boats to the Aeolian Islands leave from town.

Oliveri's restaurants serve fresh fish and handmade pasta, and granita is the local way to cool down.