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Isola Palmaria

Italy

8 story sections

Palmaria is an Italian island situated in the Ligurian Sea, at the westernmost end of the Gulf of La Spezia. Measuring 1.6 square kilometres (0.6 sq mi), it is the largest island of an archipelago of three closely spaced islands jutting out south from the mainland at Portovenere. The other islands, Tino, and the tiny Tinetto lie further south.

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to Isola Palmaria, the largest and most rugged of the three islands guarding the Gulf of Poets. As you step off the ferry from Porto Venere, you are entering a UNESCO World Heritage site that has served as a strategic…

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  2. 2Terriccio Beach — The Arrival and the Gulls

    Your journey begins at the Terriccio landing, a small pebble beach that serves as the island's primary gateway. As noted in local accounts, this area is often populated by large colonies of seagulls that claim the shore during…

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  3. 3The Military Ruins — Bunkers and Strategic Echoes

    As we ascend the path toward the island's interior, the landscape becomes peppered with the remnants of Palmaria's military past. You will encounter low-lying concrete bunkers and observation posts, some dating back to the Second…

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  4. 4Torre Scola — The Guardian of the Bay

    From the eastern vantage points of the trail, you can clearly see the Torre Scola, a pentagonal fortress rising directly from the sea on a small rocky islet. Built by the Republic of Genoa in 1606, it was designed to defend the…

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  5. 5The Portoro Marble Quarry — Black and Gold

    Descending toward the sea on the island's southern side, we reach the abandoned quarries of Portoro marble. This is perhaps the most unique geological feature of Palmaria. …

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  6. 6Pozzale and the View of Tino

    The path eventually leads down to the beach at Pozzale, a tranquil spot located on the side of the island facing the open sea. From here, the view of the neighboring island of Tino is breathtaking. …

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  7. 7The Western Cliffs and the Descent to San Pietro

    The final leg of the trail takes us along the high western cliffs, the most dramatic and wild part of Palmaria. Here, the land drops precipitously for nearly 200 meters into the sea. …

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  8. 8Closing

    As we return to the Terriccio landing to await our ferry, let us reflect on the multifaceted character of Isola Palmaria. We have traversed a landscape that is simultaneously a fortress, a quarry, and a nature reserve. …

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What is Isola Palmaria?

Isola Palmaria is a place in Italy with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationItaly
TypeHeritage
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates44.0485, 9.8375
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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