Italy’s Lesser-Known Islands: Do You Know the Hidden Gems?

The lesser-known islands in Italy, many of which are uninhabited are fascinating. There are a total of 450 islands in Italy – all with diversity in size, population, and distance to the mainland.

When I considered doing a post on the subject, I was amazed at the amount of information I didn’t know. So, I thought perhaps you might want a little insight too.

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A few simple facts… while as most would think, 118 of the total number of Italy’s islands are made make up by those in the Venetian Lagoon. Next, the two largest islands are Sicily and Sardinia, which are two of the twenty official regions of Italy. I’ve decided not to focus on Sardinia and Sicily for this post. We have several posts on Sicily and next year, Gary and I plan to explore Sardinia with friends… so I’ll wait until then to give you more detail about that island. So let’s get started on discovering the lesser-known islands of Italy.

Lesser-Known Islands of Italy

Aeolian Islands

The largest island group is the archipelago in Sicily, known as the Aeolian Islands. Located in the north west corner of Sicily are seven islands that make up this “archipelago.” As you would suspect, these islands owe their UNESCO status to their volcanic qualities.

You can reach each of these islands by ferry from the port town of Milazzo. The seven islands are Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea, and the two most remote islands of Filicudi and Alicudi.  

Probably the most well-known of these islands is Stromboli – this Sicilian island is super-hot and hyperactive. Furthermore, the volcano erupts about every fifteen minutes with red lava flowing into the sea, leaving scars on the flanks called Sciare.

Filicudi is an island of forests and extinct volcanic craters. The beautiful blue-green waters have many grottos and sea stacks to be explored. Sea stacks are geological landforms consisting of steep, vertical columns of rock in the sea near a coast, formed by wave erosion. Stacks are formed over time by wind and water, processes of coastal geomorphology.

Alicudi has been said to lure yogis and people truly wanting to be alone. This island is shaped like a pyramid. There are over 10,000 steps that connect buildings. But no worries… there are a few donkeys around to help you with your luggage up the paths!

Aegadian Islands

The second of Sicily’s three island groups is situated on the island’s west coast, a short distance from Trapani. Favignana is the most popular of these three Aegadian Islands. It has beautiful beaches along with a dramatic rocky landscape. The other two are Levanzo and Marettimo.

On Favignana, tuna is king—or was king. Although tuna is no longer fished in these waters, the factory still exists and has been turned into a small museum.

Levanzo is a cute fisherman village. The unique thing about this island is the Faraglioni beach, which probably has the most recognizable massive sea stacks in Italy.

Marettimo is an island for adventure and intrigue. Kayak along the grottos and watch the monk seals frolick in the emerald-green water. In addition, you’ll find only one tiny village here with lots of paths dotted with relics built by Byzantine monks.

Pelagie Islands

Two islands that aren’t part of any island group are Pantelleria (has its own airport) and Ustica which is just north of Palermo. This island is a favorite with divers.

Tuscan Archipelago

There are seven islands that make up this group. By far the largest and most popular with Italians is Elba. You might have heard of the smaller Giglio island where, in 2012, the Costa Concordia cruise ran around. Thirty-three people died, and Captain Francesco Schettino disgraced Italy by abandoning the ship during the crisis.

Pianosa is an odd island. It is flat and has an active prison. Only a few people live on the island along with several inmates. Back in the 1800s, it used to be named Devil’s Island due to the criminals that were sent here to die.

Of all the Tuscan islands, Capraia is the most off-the-beaten path. It’s a three-hour ferry ride from Livorno. You’ll find dolphins and whales gathering at the beautiful Cetacean Sanctuary. A scuba diving hotspot, there’s an underwater giant city restricted to expert divers, 40 meters (130 feet) deep. The tiny island of Giannutri is located the closest to Giglio. Both islands boast the most spectacular blue water of all the islands. The crescent-shaped Giannutri, nicknamed “The Jewel” among the Tuscan Italian islands, is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets. The last two islands are Montecristo, which has an environmentally protected status and requires special permission to visit, and Gorgona, which the only way to visit is by committing a crime. It is an island with a working prison.

Let The Lesser-Known Islands Continue…

Pontine Islands

Located off the coast of Rome are a group of islands dominated by Ponza, a favorite getaway for Romans. As with several other little island cities, it too has multi colored homes sitting on the water. The second largest and only other inhabited island is Ventotene.

The Pontine Islands, without a doubt, are spectacular for their natural arches and coves. The other Pontine Islands fall into that “large rock” category. They are Palmarola, Zannone, Gavi, and Santo Stefano.

Palmarola boasts to have the clearest waters of any of the Italian islands. Known as the ”pearl of the Pontine archipelago,” it’s just off Rome’s coast. This island is uninhabited except during summer.

Tremiti Islands

As the name implies, these islands mean the “Islands of Tremors” due to earthquakes. These islands are just off the coast of the Puglia region. The two main islands are San Domino and San Nicola. Both of these have only a handful of inhabitants. The other two islands, Capraia (not to be confused with the Tuscan one named the same) and Cretaccio.

When visiting San Domino be prepared for its rocky terrain. This is another snorkeling paradise. The most popular scuba diving site on the island is the Devil’s Eyes, which is a set of underwater caves swarming with tuna.

Venetian Lagoon

First of all, this group is probably not really considered “the lesser-known islands” but this group is located up north near Venice. Furthermore, Venice, Burano, and Murano are the most famous and well-known of the 120ish islands in this area.

Pellestrina is somewhat downgraded in many guidebooks because it’s not well maintained. But this island has a quirky vibe, its own colorful houses, and a working-class community. The island of Torcello is a short hop across the Lagoon and has a beautiful church with the best views of the area, Torcello Cathedral.

A great website for general Italian Islands Information

The Lesser-Known Islands: Borromean

You might be surprised at this lesser-known island… found in the landlocked region of Piedmont. Three islands are found within Lake Maggiore. Isola Bella and Isola Madre boast spectacular gardens while Isola dei Pescatori hosts bars and restaurants.  

Phlegraean Islands – Campanian Archipelago

The Phlegraean Islands consist of the islands of Ischia, Procida, Vivara, and Nisida. They are part of the Campanian Archipelago, also called the Neapolitan Archipelago. The island of Capri , consequently, is usually excluded, as it does not belong to the same geologic formations. These four islands are located on the edge of the Gulf of Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The beautiful island of Ischia dominates these islands. The most beautiful medieval castle, Castello Aragonese, sits right on the edge of the cliff and is connected to the island by a historic stone bridge. Ischia is a favorite Italian getaway due to its thermal spas. The volcanic activity produces a special type of mud that has healing properties.

Next to Ischia is the island of Procida. A sleepy town that had scenes filmed from the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. Marina Corricella is perhaps the most popular visitor attraction on the island of Procida. The small marina is filled with brightly colored houses that line up together and have the perfect view looking out to the Gulf of Naples.

Most noteworthy, the last two islands are restricted. Nisida has a juvenile detention centre and naval base while Vivara has protected status.

But… let’s now briefly discuss Capri. Capri’s beauty is beyond question, and home to some iconic sights known worldwide. The Blue Grotto, Faraglioni Rocks, and Mount Solaro are the highlights of this amazing island. The island has two harbors, Marina Piccola and Marina Grande. The separate comune of Anacapri is incredible and located high on the hills.

Palmaria Island

Palmaria is the largest and most visited island in the La Spezia Archipelago. It’s near Portovenere and part of the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two small islands next to it are Tino and Tinetto.

In Conclusion… Lesser-Known Islands of Italy

Finally, I’m sure I need to add a disclaimer that I’ve likely forgotten to include a few lesser-known islands in Italy. As interesting as I found this post to research… it wasn’t quite as easy and straightforward as I thought it would be – but fun.

As a result, we’d love to know if you have visited any of these lesser-known islands. I would bet our readers would be interested too. Please be sure to comment on the post!