Who hasn’t dreamed of having an island all to yourself? A small corner of the world surrounded by a stretch of water, whether sea or lake, far from the crowds, where you decide how to spend your days and, why not, build your own dream refuge. Of course, prices are often astronomical, but this dream isn’t necessarily unattainable. In Italy, in fact, there are nine private islands currently on sale, scattered from north to south. Some are true estates set within the lagoon, with villas, vineyards and private docks; others are small islets that guard ancient fortifications, towers, and centuries of history.
The asking prices vary widely, ranging from 1.5 million euros to 24 million, while for some properties the price is only provided on request. A decidedly exclusive market, where each island has unique characteristics, history, and potential. Yet there are lucky individuals who could truly turn this dream into reality.
Santa Cristina Island (Venice)
It is the most expensive of the Italian islands currently on the market and almost looks like a small estate suspended over the waters of the Venetian Lagoon: Santa Cristina Island spans about 29 hectares, located between Torcello and the vividly colored Burano, and is listed at 24 million euros.
Here there’s not just land surrounded by water: the property includes a main four-story villa, a farmhouse, a chapel, a heated saltwater pool, a boat shed, private moorings, and even a heliport. But it is the landscape surrounding it that makes it even more spectacular: a vineyard producing the estate’s wine, as well as olive groves, orchards, and areas dedicated to fishing.
Crevan Island (Venice)
Sticking with the evocative islands of Veneto, in the northern lagoon of Venice, we discover another island that has drawn particular attention in recent days: Crevan Island, put on the market for €5.5 million. The position is one of its strengths: it sits between Sant’Erasmo, Burano, and Torcello, about 20 minutes by boat from Venice and 25 from Marco Polo Airport.
But what makes it truly special is its history: the island houses an ancient Napoleonic fort, built in the nineteenth century and today transformed into a private residence.
Surrounded by greenery and equipped with two private docks, Crevan thus blends the charm of military history with the possibility of living in total privacy, in the heart of the Venetian lagoon.
San Pietro Octagon (Venice)
Among the more affordable options is the San Pietro Octagon, in the southern lagoon of Venice: it is one of the five historic fortified islands with an octagonal shape built in the lagoon.
It lies off San Pietro in Volta, at Pellestrina, and covers about a third of a hectare. Small in size, but with a rich history, it is an island-fortress that still preserves the unusual appearance of the old Venetian defensive works. The asking price to secure it? Approximately €1.5 million.
Alberoni Octagon (Venice)
Also in the Venice Lagoon is the Alberoni Octagon, another of the ancient military structures built to defend the city from sea attacks. The price is available on request, but what makes it particularly appealing is mainly its history: the structure is part of the fortifications system built in the lagoon starting in the 16th century. A small artificial island with a distinctive octagonal shape, today a testament to a largely forgotten chapter of Venetian military history.
Orbi Island (Gorizia)
Moving to the Grado Lagoon, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, there stands out a private island that could become a retreat far from the crowds: it is Orbi Island, on sale for €3 million. Here there aren’t grand villas or historic monuments, but a landscape of water, canals, and small islets, where nature is the real protagonist. A distinctive property for those who dream of living surrounded by the lagoon and with the feeling of having a small world all to themselves.
Ravaiarina Island (Udine)
Also in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the Marano Lagoon, is the Isola di Ravaiarina, offered at €3 million. Its history is tied to the lagoon’s activities: the property includes an old restaurant and a series of fishponds, built for fish farming. A detail that tells a piece of local tradition and makes this island quite different from a simple residential property.
Rovigliano Rock (Naples)
You must reach the Gulf of Naples, between Torre Annunziata and Castellammare di Stabia, to admire an islet that seems to have stepped out of another era, about 500 meters from the coast: Rovigliano Rock, offered on the market with a private price. Known in ancient times as Petra Herculis, it houses a fortified structure. Its history and its location make it a truly extraordinary property. It’s no coincidence that in 1925 it was declared a National Monument and today is protected as a historical and maritime heritage of Campania.
Isola delle Femmine (Palermo)
From the Campania region we move to Sicily. Off the coast of Palermo lies one of the most evocative properties in the selection: Isola delle Femmine, on sale for €1.6 million.
Dominating it is a 16th-century watchtower, part of the ancient defensive system built to protect Sicily’s coasts from corsair incursions. Today the tower lies in ruins, but its historical character could become the heart of a future restoration project, naturally honoring the preservation constraints.
Santa Maria Island (Trapani)
Staying in Sicily, we discover another island in the Stagnone Lagoon, near Marsala: Isola di Santa Maria is for sale, with a price tag of a striking €15 million. Here the charm lies mainly in the presence of a villa of about 460 square meters and a 16th-century chapel. The property also includes a keepers’ residence and an animal shelter.
Framing it is one of Sicily’s most beautiful lagoon settings, with salt pans, shallow waters, and spectacular sunsets. A surroundings that makes the island even more unique for those seeking a property fully immersed in nature.
