Here are just a few of the country’s lesser-known island destinations to consider for your next trip.
Elba, Tuscany
As the largest island in the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, Isola d’Elba boasts turquoise seas and beautiful beaches.
The extraordinary rich landscapes provide the optimum conditions for outdoor recreation, including hiking and mountain biking, golf, sailing, diving and snorkelling through its abundant seabeds, which are part of the largest marine park in Europe.
The thermal baths of San Giovanni hold natural healthy properties in their waters, making it a popular spot for those seeking the ultimate day of relaxation.
For the best viewpoint, Monte Capanne at 1019 metres is the island’s highest mountain, which can be reached by trekking or chairlift.
Pantelleria, Sicily
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Isolated in the Strait of Sicily, Pantelleria is located off the east coast of Tunisia, where the African continent is clearly visible from its shores on a clear day.
Its rough landscape and historic dammusi (stone dwellings) give you a feeling that you’re lost in remote North Africa.
Touring around the island by boat is the best way to enjoy the coves and natural harbours lined with pebble beaches.
Specchio di Venere, or The Mirror of Venus, is a highlight of the island; a picturesque lake with water temperatures ranging between 40°C and 50°C, its hot springs are a popular attraction for visitors.
Burano, Veneto
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Often overlooked by Venice-exploring tourists who venture out to the closer island of Murano, Burano is a hidden gem in the Northern lagoon of Venice.
Its small, brightly painted houses are characterised by a distinct colour scheme, making it different from any other place in the lagoon.
The island is known as one of the last surviving centres of hand lacemaking and intricate lace fabrics are still made and sold there, as its own traditional art form.
Burano is also famous for its seafood dishes, found in a traditional trattoria buranella, where the typical gò (small fish from the lagoon) are often on the menu.
Procida, Campania
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Newly announced as Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022, Procida is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Italy and is the smallest island in the Bay of Naples.
Not far from the mass tourist hotspots of Capri and Ischia, this unique island is only a short ferry ride from Naples.
Its 17th-century port, Corricella, made the set of 1994 Oscar-winning film Il Postino as well as in The Talented Mr Ripley.
However, unlike the other popular holiday destinations in the region, Procida’s streets are the domain of the locals.
Piles of fishing nets line the port’s waterfront as school children and three-wheeled Ape trucks feed down its narrow streets.
Salina, Sicily
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The second largest island in the Aeolian group, Salina presents a mystical, almost other-worldly landscape.
Encompassing two extinct volcanoes lingering over the coastal towns, its verdant scene provides panoramic trekking paths and coastal walks leading to breathtaking vistas and volcanic-sand beaches.
The island is also home to its own DOC certified sweet wine, Malvasia, as well as an abundance of capers that grow wild.
In vast contrast to its neighbour Lipari, Salina’s smaller population grants most of its locals a slower-paced rural village lifestyle, with only a handful of hotels.
