There are recognitions that celebrate a restaurant and others that end up telling the story of an entire place.
There are recognitions that celebrate a restaurant and others that end up telling the story of an entire place. The Michelin star confirmed for Ristorante Signum for the tenth consecutive year, with the 2026 edition of the Michelin Guide Italy, belongs to this second category.
It is the sign of a journey built over time, under the guidance of Martina Caruso, chef and patron of the restaurant, but also the reflection of a broader vision: that of an island that has been able to transform its identity into storytelling, hospitality and gastronomic culture.
In Salina, Signum has never been just a hotel nor just a restaurant. It is a presence deeply connected to the territory, the community and the rhythms of the island. Its growth accompanies that of the island and interprets its evolution: from a secluded place in the Aeolian Islands to a destination capable of speaking to the world through cuisine, hospitality, nature and tradition.
Founded in 1988 by Clara Rametta and Michele Caruso, Signum is today led by their children Luca, general manager, and Martina, chef and patron of the starred restaurant. A generational transition that does not interrupt the family story, but expands it, keeping its roots firmly in place while opening them to a contemporary vision.
Within this story, female figures play a fundamental role. Clara Rametta built an idea of sustainable, authentic hospitality, deeply connected to the identity of Salina. Martina Caruso has inherited this legacy, transforming it into a cuisine capable of bringing the island onto the international stage without distancing it from its essence.
When the Michelin star arrived in 2016, it marked a before and after. That recognition brought a different gaze to the island, helping to make it a gastronomic and cultural destination. Over time, the star has become much more than an individual award: it has generated attention, relationships and awareness; it has strengthened local identity, supported the economy, enhanced the work of producers and renewed the importance of preserving landscape and traditions.
Ten years later, Signum continues to tell this shared evolution. It does not simply grow in Salina, but together with Salina. Its story is that of a family, but also of an island that has learned to remain faithful to itself while opening up to the world.
