Lampedusa is the largest Island of the Pelagie archipelago and it is nearer to Africa than to Italy. The name Lampedusa derives from the Byzantine Greek term Lopadusa that means "rich of mollusks". Throughout the years, it has been home of the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans; then the number of its inhabitants decreased due to the Saracen attacks. Only in 1847 the island return to be inhabited thanks to Ferdinando II of Borbone. Throughout the centuries, the island has belonged to the noble Lampedusa family, the same family Giuseppe Lampedusa, author of the famous historical novel "Il Gattopardo", belonged to.
Lampedusa is characterized by an untouched nature, crystal-clear water and savage landscape. In 2002 the Marine Protected area was instituted in order to protect one of the last remaining egg-laying sites in Italy for Loggerhead Sea Turtle.