Italy has always appealed to travellers with its rich history, diverse landscapes, delicious cuisine and vibrant culture.The country offers a unique and memorable experience to those looking to discover and explore ancient ruins, artistic masterpieces, soak up stunning coastal views or to simply taste authentic Italian life.
Such is its continuing popularity that a whopping 64.5 million tourists visited the country last year. This makes Italy the third most popular tourist destination in Europe and fifth globally.
Most travellers will pay a visit to the country’s famous cities – such as Venice, Florence or Rome.
However, there is an island in southern Italy less frequented but which offers the visitor no less a remarkable experience.
Lampedusa is one of the Pelagie Islands, located just over 100 km from the North African coast and 200 km from the coast of Sicily.
For this reason, the island is a mix of cultures, styles and climate between Sicily, Italy and Africa.
It boats stunning beaches, clear turquoise waters, and fantastic opportunities for snorkelling and diving.
The island complex is also a haven for wildlife, with its beaches a natural breeding ground for the loggerhead sea turtles.
Most of the island’s life is centred on the main street Via Roma and the port, where most of the locals live.
Heading away from the main urban area, tourists can discover some Dammusi – these are traditional houses made from local red rock where farm workers used to live.
Lampedusa’s close proximity to Africa has made it the main entry point into Europe for migrants for the past 20 years.
Some 144,641 migrants have passed through the processing facilities in Imbriacola county since June 2023.
The facilities are run by the Italian Red Cross, who have been praised by local officials for their organisational skills and humane treatment of migrants.
The flow of people looking to start new lives in Europe shows no real sign of slowing down, with arrivals this year already up by 25.3% on 2024.
