L'isola che non c'è, the island that doesn't exist, is the title of an Italian song dealing with an island that you cannot reach, but this is not the case. In fact, Isola d'Elba, an amazing island situated between the Tyrrhennian Sea and Ligurian Sea and the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago, can be easily reached thanks to the two main ferry companies, Toremar and Moby Lines, available from Piombino. There is also an airport on the island, Marina di Campo Airport, that is served by Intersky with flights to Friedrichshafen, Munich and Zürich, and ElbaFly for internal flights.
The Aeolian Islands or the Lipari Islands is an archipelago of volcanic islands located north of Sicily. The Islands are known to be a very popular tourist destination during summer, and attract more than 200,000 visitors each year. The islands had been declared a world heritage site in the year 2000 because of their unique geological features. There are 8 main islands which make up the archipelago.
Salina is the second largest in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands and is quite different in landscape than the rest of the islands. Due to its numerous fresh water springs, the island is quite green. The island is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list due to its volcanoes. The island is composed of six different volcanoes, and the two most important ones are Monte Fossa Delli Fecci and Monte dei Porri. Both of these volcanoes are quite well preserved. The island is made up of three small towns and some villages and the population of the entire town is approximately 4000.
Lido is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon and a very popular place among those who want to escape the chaos and the crowds of the city. Although not many people know of Lido, it is quite trendy and upscale without being overcrowded. Most visitors visit Lido as a day excursion to explore some of its charming streets and handsome mansions.
Lido is a very small island and most people on the island work in Venice, some of them work at the restaurants and the hotels on the island. The island has a much laid back and a relaxed lifestyle and most restaurants here have a homely and warm atmosphere.
La Maddalena is an island located in northern part of Sardinia in Italy. The island is not very heavily populated and is a part of the province of Olbia-Tempio. It is a commune and the largest city on the island is the La Maddalena town. The island is quite famous for its beautiful beaches and has a rocky terrain. There are several ancient ruins and some fortifications that are still left on the island.
Lampedusa is an island located in the Pelagie group of Islands in Sicily in Italy. The island is the largest one in the group of islands and is the southernmost island in Sicily; it is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is only 3 Km wide and is 12 Km long. Lampedusa has a very vibrant culture and a historic past since over the centuries it had been inhabited by quite a lot of different nationalities and tribes including the Romans, Arabs and Greeks.
Torcello is a small island located at the northern tip of the Venetian lagoon in Italy. The island is very sparsely populated but at one point it used to be the oldest region in Venice to be continuously populated. After the Roman Empire's downfall, the locals from the mainland in Venice fled to Torcello to take shelter from the invasions. Due to the frequent Germanic invasions the locals sought permanent refuge in Torcello and it continued receiving a steady stream of people from the mainland including the Bishop of Altino.
Panarea is a small island located off the Sicilian coast and is one of the Aeolian Islands. Out of the eight islands that make up the chain of the Aeolian Islands, Panarea is the second smallest. The island is only 3 Km. long and 2 Km. wide and there are only around 280 permanent residents on the island which makes it a very charming island. Recently, the island has become a very important tourist destination for wealthy tourists, most of whom explore the coast on their yachts. Due to this, Panarea sees a lot of day-trip tourists that flock here every year especially in the summers.
Burano is a small island located in the Venetian lagoon in Italy. In fact, Burano is a series of several different islands that are all linked with bridges. The island is located just 7 Km from Venice and can be reached here in boats or ferries that take somewhere around 40 minutes. There is a bridge that connects Burano to Mozzarbo. The island is mainly famous for its lace work and there are several shops here where beautiful lace cloths can be bought. In 16th century the island grew in popularity when the women of the island started making lace with needles and it was soon very sought after by people through the country.
Murano is a small island in the Venetian lagoon in Italy. Although it is described as in island, it is in fact a series of small islands which are joined together with bridges. The island is mainly famous for its glass work and especially for its beautiful lamps. Murano was once a commune but is now it falls under the jurisdiction of Venice. It is believed that the island was first inhabited by the Romans, like most places in Italy. And it was in 1291 that the Venetian glass makers were forced to move to the island due to the risks involved in the process.
Giudecca is a small island located in the Venetian lagoon in Italy. Guidecca has a laid back and a relaxed lifestyle and a distinctive village like atmosphere. Even though the island is a neighborhood of Venice, it is still quite different from the more popular part of the city and is not yet as crowded with tourists as Venice is.
If you are planning for a trip to Italy, then you can consider spending some time in Tavolara Island, which lies along the northeast coast of Sardinia. This island is situated in the geographical region of Gallura in the town of Olbia across the Olbia-Tempio province. You can find one of the most amazing landscapes on Tavolara overlooking the sea, as there are restrictions on construction activities in this region. From a distance, the island seems as if a massive limestone is springing out of the sea. This rectangular structure is around 6 kms in length and 1 km in width.
Sant'Antioco is the second largest island around the region of Sardinia and is considered to be among the fourth largest among the Italian islands. It is connected through an artificial isthmus and was originally built by the Romans. Both Sant'Antioco and Calasette are the urban areas of this mainland whereas the rest of the region comprises of small towns with beach resorts. The history of this island is around 1000 years old and there were inhabitants settled in this town from 8th century B.C.
The archipelago of La Maddalena is comprised of 7 major islands known for their exquisite natural beauty and splendor with crystal clear waters, coves and bays along with blue cliffs. Caprera, La Maddalena, Santa Stefano, Budelli, Razolli, Spargi including Santa Maria along with around 60 small islands make up this archipelago. All of these islands are known for their scenic landscape and beaches which is a major attraction for the tourists visiting this place.
Caprera is a small and beautiful island located along the Maddalena archipelago, just away from the coast of Sardinia in Italy. It has been declared a nature reserve due to the variety of rare species found on this island. Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian freedom fighter established his presence on this island and lived out his final days here. There is a museum and a chapel dedicated in his memory on this island and Caprera is connected to the mainland via the Passo della Moneta footbridge.
Procida is one of the smallest islands located along the Gulf of Naples and has some nice attractions for visitors, which includes some ancient excavations belonging to this region. This Phlegrean Island along southern Italy can be found in between Cape Miseno and Ischia island. Many tourists come to this spot to visit some of the old archeological findings, which are known to have a Greek origin. It has been a favorite spot of movie directors where scenes for The Postman and The Talented Mr. Ripley were shot.
Asinara is a small island located along the northwestern coast of Sardinia characterized by an irregular shape island with around 700 inhabitants living here. This island comprises of rocky and steep mountain terrain along the western side whereas the eastern side has more flat areas reaching up to a depth of around 50 meters. There are thick Mediterranean shrubs covering the mountain peaks with absence of trees due to lack of fresh water in these areas. In 1991, Asinara was converted into a National Park as a marine preserve and hence it can be visited on organized tours.
Among the Aegadian islands, Marettimo is the second largest island known for its natural beauty, which attracts visitors coming to this scenic spot. This island is located across the West coast of Sicily at a distance of around 40 kms surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The clean and unspoilt beaches along with the scenic beauty of the mountains here offer lot of opportunities for exploring this island. This island is quite remote and offers lot of peace and tranquility amidst its pristine surroundings.
Levanzo, one of the most beautiful islands is located close to Trapani and it is known to be the smallest of islands among the Aegadian islands. It is the one of the major tourist attractions known for its natural charm and beauty as compared to most of the other islands. Levanzo is surrounded by the blue green waters of the Mediterranean Sea along the north of Favignana close to Sicily.
Favignana is a butterfly shaped island and considered to be the largest among the Egadi Islands. The other main islands of the Aegadian archipelago comprise of Levanzo, Marettimo, Maraone and Formica. This ancient island is located in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea and is at a distance of around 9 miles from Trapani. It takes around 20 minutes through a hydrofoil or one hour to reach this place using ferry services. The two wings of this butterfly shaped island are not similar, just in shape and size but also share certain common features.
