Italian islands

Private islands for sale in Italy include a former Swarovski property in the Venice Lagoon, a 16th-century chapel near Marsala, traditional lagoon huts in Friuli Venezia Giulia and a Spanish viceregal fortress near Naples.Not every seller has disclosed a price, and several listings involve constrain

Breakfast on a terrace overlooking the sea, with the first morning light coming through every window, does not necessarily have to be a luxury reserved for a select few. Sea-view apartments in Sicily can be more accessible than many people expect. In Palermo, Catania, Siracusa, Messina, Trapani and Cefalù, homes with panoramic views often have prices per square metre below those found along Italy’s more expensive coastal resorts.

Set within the established maritime landscape of Villaggio Piras, Villa Azzurra is a single-storey Sardinian residence shaped by sea light, native planting and an unusually close relationship with the coastline.  With views across crystalline water towards Caprera, and white-sand coves a s

Elba may seem familiar at first, until you come across corners that change the picture entirely: a green lagoon where swimming is forbidden, a black beach reached only by taking the walk slowly, and a fortress that never fell under siege. These are six unusual, lesser-visited places on Elba, giving a different perspective on Tuscany’s best-known island in the archipelago.

A village of stone houses, a bell tower rising from the sumac bushes, and the sound of water still flowing along the valley floor. It looks like a movie set from another era, but it's real: Cunziria, an ancient 19th-century tannery village near Vizzini, in the province of Catania.

Summer 2026 could be the perfect opportunity to choose Italian islands where mass tourism doesn't dictate the agenda. These are destinations that still thrive on authenticity, offering essential services but memorable experiences. Here, then, are five "off-the-beaten-path" destinations for those seeking a truly carefree vacation, with helpful tips for arriving prepared and enjoying every day without the crowds.

The prospect of a second home, a property investment, a move away from the city or a fresh start can feel a little closer with €1 homes near the sea in 2026. The scheme to sell homes at a symbolic price began in the early 2000s. It was a bold challenge taken up by local authorities to give historic centres a new lease of life, encourage the renovation of abandoned homes, attract new residents and support local businesses.

Is it really necessary to travel halfway around the world to find sapphire-blue water and pale sand?

Stromboli can be visited in just a day, but it's captivating and memorable. It's the only Aeolian island with a perpetually active volcano. For this reason, here you'll find white houses nestled against the black mountain, lava-sand beaches, car-free streets, and a crater that lights up every evening.

Sardinia is often reduced to its beaches, yet the island’s smaller towns are where the detail lives: medieval lanes, fishing harbours, local wine, island ferries and archaeological sites sitting a short drive from the coast. The best villages to visit in Sardinia are spread widely, so it pays t

Elba Island sits off the Tuscan coast in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a short ferry ride from Piombino.

Lampedusa is famous for its transparent waters, deep turquoise seabeds and still largely unspoilt scenery. If you don’t want to give up an umbrella, a sunbed, a shower and a proper lunch with a sea view, choosing the right lido (beach club) can really shape your holiday. The equipped beaches in Lampedusa strike that balance between wild nature and comfort. Here’s a complete overview of the main beaches with facilities, including where most of the lidos are concentrated, which areas are easiest for families and which are better suited to snorkelling and proper relaxation.

An uninhabited island, flat as a table and hidden among sandbanks and canals: one of the most surprising places in the Venetian Lagoon is about to be reopened. San Giacomo in Paludo, just over a hectare between Murano and the route to Burano and Torcello, is at the center of a project that combines environmental restoration, research, and contemporary art.

Sicily has islands that still manage to surprise visitors because, despite being well known, they have not given in to the pressure of full-capacity tourism at all costs. They are Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli, Favignana and Ustica. The sea remains centre stage, there is plenty to do, and the atmosphere still follows local rhythms that have been lost elsewhere. Which islands bring together summer relaxation, sport and entertainment without going over the top? Here are five destinations that put authenticity first.

There’s a stretch of Sardinian coastline where the sea laps at a very long beach and, even in high season, it never feels cramped.

Ready to plan your perfect summer?Here’s a look at 6 dream islands between Italy, Spain and Portugal, ideal if you’re after striking beaches, dramatic scenery, high levels of comfort and unspoilt nature.If you’re looking for peace and quiet, outdoor experiences or special moments to share with famil

Sicily is dotted with small historic centres that sit on cliffs, hide behind medieval walls or spill gently towards the sea.

An Italian beach has introduced a strict umbrella ban for most adults and capped access at just 150 people at a time. There’s also a €10 entry fee and compulsory booking.

An archipelago town where sunsets set the Adriatic glowing, yet without the pressure of mass tourism.

If you’re after a slice of Italy that feels genuinely removed from the usual Rome–Florence–Venice circuit, an island in Sardinia has a certain quiet drama about it. This limestone and granite island rises sharply out of the sea, with a unique flat summit.

Grammichele, in the heart of the province of Catania, is well known for its mesmerizing geometric grid from above. The surprise is heightened when you discover it's not a contemporary whim, but the result of a 17th-century reconstruction guided by a rigorous urban planning vision. With just over twelve thousand inhabitants, the town center boasts baroque squares, scenic churches, and a museum that recounts the origins of this urban enterprise. Here, then, are what to see in Grammichele, the hexagonal city.

Between Burano and Sant’Erasmo sits a tiny island almost entirely occupied by a working Franciscan monastery.

Sicily remains one of Italy’s favourite summer destinations, thanks to its sweeping beaches, hilltop villages and dramatic scenery, but also because of its climate. Rising temperatures linked to climate change are reshaping Mediterranean summers, and each month now brings slightly different conditions.

Each year, the Blue Flag award becomes a valuable guide for those planning their vacation and wanting to know which beaches in Sicily have the Blue Flag. The criteria also evaluate purification, safety, accessibility, waste management, and environmental stewardship. Here is the list of all the 2026 Blue Flags in Sicily, including the awarded locations, what's new compared to last year, and the beaches to keep an eye on.

There are places in Sardinia where the sand seems to set the sea alight.