List of islands of Italy facts for kids
Italy is a country with a long coastline, and it's surrounded by many different seas, like the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, and Tyrrhenian Sea. Because of this, Italy has over 400 islands! The biggest island is Sicily, which is huge, covering about 25,711 square kilometers. All the islands that are part of Italy's main landmass are grouped into a special region called Insular Italy.
Islands in the Sea
Italy's coastline stretches for about 7,600 kilometers along the Mediterranean Sea. This means there are lots of islands and small rocky areas (called skerries) all around! Let's explore some of the most interesting island groups.
Islands Near Calabria
Off the coast of Calabria, which is in southern Italy, you'll find several islands. Many of these are small rocks or tiny islands.
- Isola di Dino is an island that nobody lives on. It's a cool place to explore!
- The Coreca Reefs are a group of rocks that stick out of the water.
Campanian Islands: Capri and Ischia
The Campanian Archipelago is a famous group of islands near Naples.
- Capri is a very well-known island, famous for its beautiful blue waters and sea caves. It has cool rock formations called the Capri Faraglioni rocks.
- Ischia is the eighth largest island in Italy, covering about 46 square kilometers. It's known for its hot springs and the amazing Aragonese Castle, which sits on its own little island connected by a bridge.
- Procida is another charming island in this group, known for its colorful houses. It's connected to a smaller island called Vivara.
Cheradi Islands
The Cheradi Islands are located in the Gulf of Taranto.
- San Paolo and San Pietro are two of the main islands here.
- Sant'Andrea is another island in this group.
Islands in Lagoons
Italy has some interesting islands located within lagoons, which are shallow bodies of water separated from the sea by narrow strips of land.
Grado Lagoon
The Marano Grado Lagoon in the Adriatic Sea has almost 120 islands!
- Barbana is one of these islands.
- The main island is Isola di Grado.
Marano Lagoon
This lagoon also has its own set of islands.
- Isola Marinetta is one of them.
- Isola Sant'Andrea is another island in this lagoon.
Porto Cesareo Lagoon
The Porto Cesareo lagoon is home to several small islands.
- Conigli is one of the islands here.
- Malva is another island in this lagoon.
Venetian Lagoon
The Venetian Lagoon is very famous, especially because it's where the city of Venice is built!
- Burano is known for its brightly colored houses.
- Murano is famous for its beautiful glass-making.
- Lido is a long, narrow island that acts as a barrier, protecting Venice from the open sea. It's also known for its beaches.
- Giudecca is a large island close to the main part of Venice.
- San Lazzaro degli Armeni is a small island with a monastery.
- Torcello is one of the oldest settlements in the lagoon.
Islands of Liguria
The Ligurian Sea is home to a few Italian islands.
- In the Gulf of La Spezia, you'll find Palmaria, Tinetto, and Tino. These islands are known for their natural beauty.
- Gallinara is a private island in the Ligurian Sea.
Pontine Islands
The Pontine Islands are a group of islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Ponza is the largest and most popular island in this group.
- Palmarola and Zannone are other islands, with Zannone being uninhabited.
- Santo Stefano and Ventotene are also part of this archipelago.
Sardinia and Its Islands
Sardinia is the second largest island in Italy, covering about 24,089 square kilometers. It has many smaller islands around it.
- Asinara is the seventh largest island, covering about 51 square kilometers. It's known for its wild white donkeys.
- The Maddalena archipelago is a beautiful group of islands in the north, including La Maddalena (the main island), Caprera, Spargi, and Budelli (famous for its pink beach). Many of these are uninhabited.
- The Sulcis Archipelago in the southwest includes Sant'Antioco, the fourth largest island in Italy (109 sq km), and San Pietro, the fifth largest (51 sq km).
- The Tavolara Islands are another group, with Molara Island and the unique Tavolara Island itself, which looks like a giant mountain rising from the sea.
Sicily and Its Islands
Sicily is the largest island in Italy. It's surrounded by many smaller islands and archipelagos.
- The Aegadian Islands are off the west coast of Sicily, including Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo.
- The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic chain to the north, including active volcanoes like Stromboli and Vulcano. Other islands are Lipari (the ninth largest, 37 sq km), Salina (tenth largest, 26 sq km), Panarea, Filicudi, and Alicudi.
- The Pelagian Islands are far to the south, closer to Africa. They include Lampedusa, Linosa, and the uninhabited Lampione.
- Pantelleria is another large island (fifth largest, 83 sq km) located between Sicily and Tunisia.
- Ustica is a volcanic island north of Sicily.
- The Cyclopean Isles are a small group of islands near the coast, named after the mythical Cyclops.
Tremiti Islands
The Tremiti Islands are a small group of islands in the Adriatic Sea.
- Isola San Domino and Isola San Nicola are the main islands.
- Capraia and Isola Pianosa are also part of this group.
Tuscan Archipelago
The Tuscan Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Tuscany.
- Elba is the third largest island in Italy, covering about 223 square kilometers. It's famous for being where Napoleon was exiled.
- Giglio and Capraia are other notable islands.
- Montecristo is a wild, uninhabited island, famous from the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo."
- Pianosa and Gorgona are also part of this beautiful archipelago.
Islands in Lakes and Rivers
Italy isn't just about sea islands! It also has islands in its many beautiful lakes and rivers.
- In Lago di Bolsena, you can find Isola Bisentina and Isola Martana.
- Lago di Como is home to Isola Comacina.
- Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake, has islands like Isola del Garda and Isola del Sogno.
- In Lago d'Iseo, you'll find Montisola, which is one of the largest lake islands in Europe.
- Lago Maggiore is famous for the Isole Borromee (Borromean Islands), which include the beautiful Isola Bella and Isola Madre with their stunning gardens, and Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen's Island).
- Isola San Giulio is a charming island in Lago d'Orta.
- Lago Trasimeno has three islands: Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore, and Isola Minore.
- The Tiber River in Rome has Isola Tiberina, a small island with a long history.
- The Po River delta also has islands like Isola Albarella.
See also
- Insular Italy
- List of islands in the Mediterranean
- List of islands in the Adriatic
- List of islands
- List of bridges in Italy
