The tiny limestone speck appears on the horizon as our boat skims across the Mediterranean. As we approach, I can make out its rough contours and the faint outline of ancient ruins. This is Tinetto, a 0.0181 square mile uninhabited Italian microisland that most travelers to the Ligurian coast will never see.

Despite being just 3 kilometers from touristy Portovenere, this UNESCO-protected dot houses archaeological treasures dating back to the 10th century yet receives virtually no visitors compared to its famous neighbors.