Lampedusa
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 21 January 2024
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Located as it is, closer to the coast of Africa then to Italy, Lampedusa isn't always the first place that comes to mind when considering places to visit in Sicily, that though, severely underestimates the draw of this beautiful island.
There are three islands in the archipelago known as the Pelagie Islands (Isole Pelagie) with Lampedusa by far the largest and most populated with a total of just over six thousand inhabitants. Its most famous sight: Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) regularly features in lists of best beaches in the world. |
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In fact, the Spiaggia dei Conigli takes its rightful place at the top of the Italy Review list of best beaches in Italy. There are plenty of other beaches besides that and everywhere you look there are dazzling shades of blue sea, spectacular at times, with the Tabbacara area particularly awe-inspiring.
There is one main town on the island, also called Lampedusa, at the centre of which is Via Roma. This is the main street in the town and a place where you'll find dozens of places to eat, drink and shop. From Via Roma you can walk down to Porto Vecchio, a fishing port where you'll find a beach and further places to eat, while just around the headland on the other side of Via Roma is Porto Nuovo, a marina mainly for private yachts which is dotted with its own restaurants.
There is one main town on the island, also called Lampedusa, at the centre of which is Via Roma. This is the main street in the town and a place where you'll find dozens of places to eat, drink and shop. From Via Roma you can walk down to Porto Vecchio, a fishing port where you'll find a beach and further places to eat, while just around the headland on the other side of Via Roma is Porto Nuovo, a marina mainly for private yachts which is dotted with its own restaurants.
History
Lampedusa is blessed with a good selection of accommodation, especially given its size, but the island certainly isn't over-developed. You can take a bus from the town to the various beaches and as soon as you leave the town's environs you find an almost desolate, rocky landscape. You can walk for miles in Lampedusa, exploring the various bays and beaches, if that's your thing (it's mine), or take various types of guided tours either by land or by sea.
Isola di Lampedusa
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Province: Agrigento
Region: Sicily Population: 6,123 Size: 20 km² Highlights: Spiaggia dei Conigli, Porto Vecchio, Porto Nuovo Recommended accommodation: Hotel O'scià |
Lampedusa Travel
Compared to other beach destinations in Italy, Lampedusa has less of an international feel to it and is most definitely Italian, ironic considering its location close to Africa. Perhaps the main reason for this is that you need to start your journey to Lampedusa from an Italian airport or an Italian sea port. It does have its own airport, a very nice, modern one that offers domestic flights to Rome, Venice, Turin, Genoa, Verona and Bergamo on the Italian mainland, or Palermo, the Sicilian capital.
Although it is possible to take a ferry or hydrofoil to Lampedusa from Porto Empedocle, close to Agrigento, the four hours and 15 minutes it takes make less sense than the one hour flight from Palermo which is the favoured way in.
Visitors to the other inhabited island in the archipelago, Linosa, can take a hydrofoil from Lampedusa, a journey time of one hour and definitely worth the effort for a day-trip. The final, uninhabited island in the group is Lampione, for which you need to take one of the private excursions that you'll find offered around the ports. You can actually see Lampione from Lampedusa's western side and the journey time there is significantly shorter than that to Linosa.
Although it is possible to take a ferry or hydrofoil to Lampedusa from Porto Empedocle, close to Agrigento, the four hours and 15 minutes it takes make less sense than the one hour flight from Palermo which is the favoured way in.
Visitors to the other inhabited island in the archipelago, Linosa, can take a hydrofoil from Lampedusa, a journey time of one hour and definitely worth the effort for a day-trip. The final, uninhabited island in the group is Lampione, for which you need to take one of the private excursions that you'll find offered around the ports. You can actually see Lampione from Lampedusa's western side and the journey time there is significantly shorter than that to Linosa.
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Arrival port: Lampedusa
Journey time from Sicilian mainland: 1 hour flight from Palermo Distance from nearest Sicilian mainland port: 224 km |
Arrive by: ferry, hydrofoil, aeroplane
Arrive from: Palermo, Porto Empedocle, Rome, Venice, Turin Fly to: Lampedusa Airport |
Lampedusa Gallery
Ferry Tickets for Lampedusa
Lampedusa Beaches
Cala Guitgia, Lampedusa
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