This CNN article covers a number of relatively obscure Italian islands that have remained free of COVID-19. Those who like to explore off the the beaten path may find some potential new destinations here. Although the article focuses on the COVID-free situation, there's some descriptive information about each of the islands, which include Linosa, the Tremiti Islands, and the Aeolian islands of Vulcano, Filicudi and Alicudi.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/italys-covid-free-islands/index.html
Thanks, this is interesting. Diligence among the islanders, along with their seclusion, seems to have been a factor in keeping them safe from the virus. They’re testing arrivals and wearing masks, apparently even when outside.
About being suspicious of only foreign faces getting off of ferries, if even a local has gone away and is returning, I’m not certain how much less of a threat they are than anyone else arriving. But if travel between islands is limited to locals, then there shouldn’t be strangers getting off any boats. What locals have done seems to have been working; it’ll be interesting how soon the tourism-dependent islands open up, and whether their safeguards will be adequate to avoid ruining their record.
The story says that Vulcano did have a single case last year, but then indicates that it’s been virus free all along. One case is still a small number, but it’s not zero.
There goes my thought of visiting Alicuda.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/has-anyone-here-been-to-alicudi
I wasn't,t thinking of visiting to avoid covid, but simply to explore a remote place well off the tourist path. I hope for their sake they manage to stay covid-free if an influx of visitors is stimulated by articles like that
With a small population of only 200-300 people, you’d think it wouldn’t take very long to inoculate the whole island, once each island gets vaccines. That might make visiting an island more likely. The question is, when will a supply of vaccine reach these small islands, compared to much more populated parts of Italy?
