Asinara National Park, National park on Asinara Island, Italy
Asinara National Park is located on an island off northwestern Italy with white limestone cliffs and Mediterranean vegetation covering its landscape. This 52-square-kilometer reserve provides habitat for numerous native species across distinct ecological zones.
The island served first as a quarantine station and later became a maximum security prison starting in 1885. After closure in 1997, the area transformed into a national park.
Abandoned prison buildings still stand on the island and tell its story to visitors today. You can walk through old rooms and see how people lived here in earlier times.
Access is only by authorized boat from Porto Torres, and you need a permit before arriving. Plan ahead since boat services run on set schedules with limited daily departures.
White donkeys with natural albinism roam freely across the island, a rare population created over generations of isolation. This distinctive group is one of the most recognizable features you will encounter there.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
