From Procida to Pantelleria, a selection of islands to visit, among countries, routes
coastal and rhythms still far from the full summer
Before the high season, Italy’s smaller islands show their best face: land more
quiet, walkable trails without the August heat, countries where everyday times matter
even more than the tourist ones. Italian Traditions offers some island destinations from
find out when flows are still contained.
Procida, in the Gulf of Naples and a few miles from the mainland, is suitable for those looking for an island
collection but rich in glimpses, routes and places linked to maritime life. In Marina Corricella,
ancient fishing village reachable only on foot or from the sea, the colorful houses descend
towards the water between boats, steps and alleys without traffic. From Terra Murata, the highest core and
ancient, the gaze opens up on the Phlegraean coast and on the roofs of the island, while further down the Chiaia
and the Chiaiolella alternate beaches, marinas and short pedestrian stretches.
Further north, Giglio Island combines small towns, clear water and granite reliefs. Who arrives
from Argentario lands in Giglio Porto, with the houses overlooking the pier and the first contact with
island life. Above, Giglio Castello preserves the medieval layout, the walls and a plot
of narrow streets that takes the gaze from the coast inland. Out of the fullness of the
season, the Cannelle, the Arenella, the Caldane and the Campese bay live more calmly,
between beach stops and short walks. In addition to the beaches, the Giglio offers paths, scrub
Mediterranean and panoramic points that show how much the coast, the upper village and the hinterland
be linked together.
In Lazio, Ventotene has a more secluded character. The island can be visited in a few days, but it brings together
sea, history and environmental protection in a small space: the Roman port still included in the
daily life of the country, the Marine Protected Area of the Islands of Ventotene and Santo Stefano,
the ancient cisterns and the profile of Santo Stefano, where the former Bourbon prison stands. Here the
The journey doesn’t just revolve around the beaches: it goes from the town centre to the coastal views, from
Roman remains at the places of political confinement, also linked to the birth of the Manifesto of
Ventotene.
Ponza, still in the Pontine Islands archipelago and not far from Ventotene, is more
known and frequented, but in the months preceding the high season it still allows for
live it with tranquility. The port, with the colorful houses arranged along the landing stage, introduces a
an island marked by rock faces, inlets and stretches of coast often accessible by sea.
Chiaia di Luna remains one of the best-known views, with the large light wall overlooking the bay;
Cala Feola and the Natural Pools, in the Le Forna area, show the slope
western, between volcanic rock, transparent water and paths that can also be done on foot.
In Sardinia, the Maddalena archipelago combines seascape and protection
environmental. La Maddalena and Caprera are the easiest islands to reach: the first
introduces the town and local life, the second opens up to paths, Mediterranean scrub
and small coves. Around, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria make up a group of
rocks shaped by the mistral, clear bottoms and stretches of coastline regulated by the National Park
of the La Maddalena Archipelago. Here the presence of protected areas requires attention:
Access, navigation and stops follow precise rules, designed to preserve an ecosystem
fragile and very exposed to tourist pressure.
Favignana, the largest of the Egadi, is often identified with Cala Rossa, Cala Azzurra and
Sea Ox, but its interest goes beyond beach stops. The former Florio factory of the
Tuna fishing tells the story of the weight that tuna fishing has had in local history and today it is home to a
museum itinerary dedicated to the island’s tuna fishery, slaughterhouse, and industrial memory. In
This period, Favignana also lends itself well to cycling: the short distances
they allow you to move between flat roads, tuff quarries and stretches of coast.
Still in the Egadi Islands, Marettimo is suitable for those seeking a more secluded reality. The island has a
mountainous profile, marked by paths, sea caves and jagged cliffs. The Castle of
Punta Troia is one of the most evocative places: overlooking a promontory, it houses the Museum
of Prisons and the Observatory for the Monk Seal of the Marine Protected Area. The excursions
By boat, however, they allow you to approach caves and coves that are difficult to reach from land.
Marettimo is best visited without too busy plans: comfortable shoes are needed, be careful
weather and time to follow the trails or wait for the right conditions to go out by sea.
Between Sicily and Tunisia, Pantelleria has a different landscape than many other islands
italian. It is not the destination of sandy beaches: it is defined by lava stone, dammusi,
terraces, the wind and an agriculture linked to the conditions of the territory. The Lake of Venus, the
natural thermal waters, the Elephant Arch, the rocky coves and the paths of the National Park
of the Island of Pantelleria show a place where the sea coexists with cultivated fields, walls
dry and volcanic landscapes. Before the summer peak, Pantelleria allows you to walk,
reach the districts, observe sapling vineyards and caper crops, stopping in
viewpoints without the highest temperatures of the season.
What makes them special is not only the beauty of the places, but the way they invite those who come to
change step. Before summer speeds up their pace, these islands let themselves be discovered in the
details: a pier still quiet in the morning, a stop in the village, a cove reached without haste,
an open path on the sea.