Stunning island that has just one resident

An island in Italy that banned tourists from visiting had just one person living there - all for a specific reason.

An island in Italy that had just one person living there is home to a rare pink beach.

Part of the La Maddalena Archipelago, Spiaggia Rosa is found on Budelli Island in northern Sardinia.

While tourists have been banned from stepping foot on the island since the early 1990s, one person was allowed to live on its shores.

Nicknamed “Robinson Crusoe” by the Italian newspapers, Mauro Morandi acted as the island’s caretaker for more than 30 years.

Mr Morandi found himself on the island after his catamaran broke down on the way to the South Pacific and he soon took over as caretaker.

The real-life Robinson Crusoe lived inside a shelter from World War II and used a homemade solar system to power his lights, fridge and internet.

He was evicted by the island’s national park authority in 2021 and died earlier this month.

In a past interview with the The Guardian, Mr Morandi said he planned to relocate to the nearby island of La Maddalena.

“My life won’t change too much, I’ll still see the sea,” Mr Morandi said.

Even though he spent 30 years living on the island, tourists weren’t allowed to step foot on the famous pink sand beach.

Budelli Island is home to Spiaggia Rosa - one of the world’s most famous beaches. Picture: Luca Picciau/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The ban came into force to protect the pink sand, which was starting to lose its rose-tinted hue because of overtourism.

Over the last 30 years, the sand’s pink shade, which is caused by the crushed shells of a micro-organism mixing with the sand when it dies, has returned to the island.

Tourists have been banned from stepping foot onto the island since the 1990s. Picture: iStock

Mauro Morandi was the island’s caretaker for more than 30 years. Picture: Mauro Morandi

Holidaymakers can book day trips around the Maddalena Archipelago.

While tours include stops in the waters surrounding the island, visitors will not be allowed to step on shore.

Despite the ban, a new wave of unauthorised daytrippers are threatening the pink shores.

Since the ban came into force three decades ago, the pink hue has returned to the island’s sand. Picture: iStock

In an article in The Times, Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena archipelago national park said: “The beach is again in danger as people arrive by boat, clamber up the beach, then post photos, which allow us to fine them up to €500 ($830).”

Tourists who’ve attempted to take Sardinia’s pink sand away as a souvenir can up fined up to €3500 ($5800).

And according to The Guardian, a couple were fined €1000 ($1660) in 2001 after they were caught filling a plastic bottle with sand.

Those who want to visit the island will need to book themself onto a private boat tour or a ferry service to glimpse this secluded spot from afar.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission