As the hydrofoil approaches Salina, the second-largest island of Sicily's Aeolian archipelago, it's not hard to understand why Michael Redford and Massimo Troisi chose it to shoot many scenes of "Il Postino" (The Postman). The 1994 film won an Academy Award for its tale about falling in love with poetry, and, to that end, there really couldn't be a more poetic setting than Salina.

The green hills that sit high above the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea. The ominous shadow of the volcano that is the island of Stromboli in the distance. The color and movement of the port. The sights, yes, but then the smells. Depending on the time of year, scents of wisteria or caper flowers dreamily intoxicate the air, leaving behind a lingering essence that will pleasantly haunt you long after you've left the island.