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Monday 11 August 2014

Italian Islands You Need to Visit

Capri

Aside from a hopping tourist hub, Capri is also rich in mythology and history. Ulysses and his sailors were said to have been lured by singing sirens lounging by the coast of Capri. Also, Roman emperor Tiberius called Capri his home until he died in 37 A.D. A part of the province of Naples, Capri's main manmade attraction is the harbour of Marina Piccola; its most famous natural attraction is a waterfront cave called Blue Grotto, so called because sunlight shining on the entrance makes the water inside glow a bright turquoise blue. The cave is accessible by boat during low tide.


Elba

Only 10 kilometers from mainland Italy, Elba is famous for being the place of exile for Napoleon. In fact, a visit to Napoleon's summer and winter homes is a part of many tours on Elba. But that's not all that this third largest Italian island has to offer. If you're into cultural heritage, you can go around Elba's many hilltop towns and castles. If you're the active type, there's hiking and biking, swimming and diving for you. (A fun fact: tourists have been known to discover gemstones and crystals on the slopes of Mount Capanne.)


Ischia

This volcanic island in the northern end of the Gulf of Naples is not just all about beautiful  sandy beaches. Ischia is mostly mountainous and is popular among tourists for its many in-land adventures, as well. Tourists can visit the Castello Aragonese, a fortress built in the 15th century, which has become the identifying symbol of the island. There's also the Giardini Ravino, a botanical garden that's famous for its huge collection of cacti and succulents. And of course, there's volcanic Mount Epomeo, all 2,589 feet of it.


Lampedusa

The main attraction of the Italy's sourthernmost island, Lampedusa, is Rabbit Beach, which, according to travel site TripAdvisor, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You won't find any rabbits here or in the rest of the island, however. Instead, it's also known to be a safe and protected place for loggerhead sea turtles to lay their eggs. The water surrounding Lampedusa is crystal clear, making it ideal for diving and snorkeling. The submerged statue of Madonna del Mare is a great spot for divers to encounter octopi and groupers.


Lipari

The island of Lipari, off the northern coast of Italy, serves as a transition of sorts: visitors who come from mainland Italy see it as their introduction to quaint island life while tourists who arrive from smaller islands will think Lipari is a big city! Regardless of how you see it, Lipari has many activities ready for the adventurous tourist: boating, snorkeling, diving, and hiking especially. It's a volcanic island, after all. The Aeolian Archaeological Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island, where visitors can gawk at sarcophagi that have been perfectly preserved by volcanic ash.

Panarea

The island of Panaera--the smallest of the Aeolian islands north of Sicily--is so tiny that there aren't any cars on it. Locals and tourists use golf carts and electric-powered bikes to go around. Panarea is mostly undeveloped, with a population of about 280. In the summer, though, come the tourists--mostly celebrities--who flock to the picture-perfect island to swim, scuba dive, snorkel, and sunbathe.






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