Li Galli islands and the myth of Ulysses | Where legend meets the Amalfi Coast

Just off the coast of Positano, surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, three small islands rise from the horizon. Known as Li Galli, or the Sirenuse Islands, they are among the most fascinating landmarks of the Amalfi Coast — not only for their natural beauty, but also for the ancient legends connected to them. According to Greek mythology, these rocky islands were the home of the Sirens who tried to enchant Ulysses, or Odysseus, during his long journey back to Ithaca. Today, travelers exploring the Amalfi Coast by sea can still sail past Li Galli, admire them from the water and stop nearby for a swim on the way to or back from Positano and Amalfi. For anyone interested in discovering a different side of the Amalfi Coast, Li Galli are a place where landscape, history and mythology seem to become part of the same story.

Where are the Li Galli Islands?

The Li Galli Islands are located in the sea between the Sorrento Peninsula and Positano, along the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. The small archipelago consists of three main islands: Gallo Lungo, the largest and most recognizable, La Rotonda and La Castelluccia, also known as Isola dei Briganti.

From the mainland, they may appear simply as small rocky silhouettes in the distance. From the sea, however, their position becomes much more impressive. They sit almost directly along the natural maritime route connecting the Sorrento Peninsula with Positano and the heart of the Amalfi Coast.

The largest island, Gallo Lungo, has a distinctive curved shape that has sometimes been compared to a dolphin. Its rocky landscape, Mediterranean vegetation and isolated position create a scenery that feels surprisingly remote despite being only a short distance from some of Italy's most famous destinations.

The islands are privately owned, so visitors cannot simply land and explore them freely. Their real charm, however, has always been connected to the sea surrounding them — and seeing Li Galli from a boat is arguably the best way to understand their unique position along the coast.

Why are Li Galli also called the Sirenuse Islands?

The alternative name Sirenuse immediately reveals the islands' strongest connection with the ancient world.

In Greek and Roman tradition, the waters around the Sorrento Peninsula were closely associated with the myth of the Sirens. Unlike the mermaid-like creatures commonly represented today, the Sirens of classical mythology were originally described as beings combining female and bird-like characteristics.

Their greatest power was their voice.

According to the legend, their irresistible song attracted sailors navigating through these waters. Those who heard it would lose control, steer toward the rocky coast and never complete their journey.

The exact geography of mythology is naturally difficult to define, and different ancient traditions associated the Sirens with different places around southern Italy. Nevertheless, Li Galli became one of the locations most strongly identified with the legendary Sirens, giving the islands a mythology that is still very much alive today.

It is easy to understand why. Seen from a boat, surrounded by open water and the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, the islands have exactly the kind of isolated, mysterious appearance from which ancient stories could emerge.

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Ulysses and the Sirens | The legend behind Li Galli

The most famous story connected with the Sirens appears in Homer's Odyssey.

During his long voyage home after the Trojan War, Ulysses is warned by the sorceress Circe about the dangers he will encounter along his route. Among them are the Sirens, whose song is so beautiful that no sailor who hears it can resist.

Ulysses, however, does not want to avoid their song completely. He wants to hear it and survive.

His solution becomes one of the most famous episodes in ancient literature.

Before approaching the Sirens, Ulysses orders his sailors to block their ears with beeswax so they cannot hear the song. He then asks them to tie him firmly to the mast of the ship. No matter how desperately he begs to be released, they must continue rowing and ignore his commands until they have sailed safely beyond danger.

As the ship passes the Sirens, Ulysses hears their voices and immediately wants to follow them. He struggles against the ropes and orders his men to free him, but the sailors — unable to hear either the Sirens or their captain — tighten his bonds and keep sailing.

Eventually, the song fades away.

Ulysses has heard what no sailor was supposed to hear and lived to continue his journey.

The Amalfi Coast between history and mythology

The story of Ulysses is one of the reasons exploring this part of Italy feels different from simply visiting a beautiful seaside destination.

Along the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast, mythology is constantly intertwined with geography. Mountains, caves, islands and stretches of sea have inspired stories for thousands of years. Punta Campanella, at the extreme end of the Sorrento Peninsula, was associated in antiquity with the cult of Athena, while the surrounding waters have long been linked to stories of sailors, gods and Sirens.

Li Galli belong perfectly to this landscape.

Imagine approaching the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento by boat. Capri gradually disappears behind you, the coastline becomes steeper and more dramatic, and Positano begins to appear between the mountains. Before reaching it, the three islands emerge from the sea.

Knowing the legend changes the way you look at them.

They are no longer simply beautiful rocks offshore. They become part of a landscape that Mediterranean sailors have observed for centuries — a natural landmark transformed by generations of storytelling into the legendary home of the Sirens.

From the Sirens to Rudolf Nureyev | The modern history of Li Galli

The fascination of Li Galli did not disappear with the ancient world.

Over the centuries, the islands passed through different hands and eventually became associated with two important figures from the world of dance. In the twentieth century, Russian choreographer and dancer Léonide Massine purchased Gallo Lungo and transformed it into an extraordinary private retreat.

Later, the property was acquired by legendary ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who continued to use the island as an exclusive residence.

This more recent history added another layer to the mythology of Li Galli. A place once imagined as the home of creatures with irresistible voices became a retreat for artists whose careers were built around music, movement and performance.

Today the islands remain private, which contributes to their sense of mystery. For most travelers, Li Galli are experienced exactly as sailors would have experienced them for centuries: from the surrounding sea.

Can you swim at Li Galli?

Although the islands themselves are privately owned and landing is restricted, the surrounding waters offer an extraordinary setting for a swimming stop, subject of course to sea conditions and navigation regulations.

The water around Li Galli is famous for its intense shades of blue and the views are remarkable in every direction. From the sea, you can see the islands close by while Positano and the mountains of the Amalfi Coast create a dramatic backdrop in the distance.

Swimming here also has a completely different feeling once you know the story behind the islands. You are floating in the same stretch of Mediterranean that tradition has associated for centuries with the Sirens and the voyage of Ulysses.

It is one of those experiences that combines something very simple — jumping into the sea — with the history and imagination of the place.

Li Galli during a boat tour from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi

One of the easiest ways to see Li Galli during your trip to the Amalfi Coast is to include them naturally in a boat tour from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi.

The islands lie along the route between the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, which means you do not necessarily need to dedicate an entire day to visiting them. When traveling by boat, they can become one of the stops that make the journey itself part of the experience.

On a PDG Boat Tours excursion from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi, for example, it is possible to see Li Galli from the sea and, when weather and sea conditions allow, stop in the surrounding waters for a swim either on the way to the Amalfi Coast or during the return journey to Sorrento.

It is a completely different experience from simply moving from one town to another. You can spend time discovering Positano and Amalfi, but between destinations there is still something to see: cliffs, caves, secluded bays and the legendary islands associated with Ulysses and the Sirens.

This is one of the great advantages of exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat. There is no traffic to negotiate or parking to find, and the route can include places that simply cannot be experienced in the same way from land. Li Galli are a perfect example: three small islands, thousands of years of mythology and a stretch of blue Mediterranean where you can stop, dive in and — unlike Ulysses — enjoy the Sirens' sea without being tied to the mast.

Why are Li Galli also called the Sirenuse Islands?

The alternative name Sirenuse immediately reveals the islands' strongest connection with the ancient world.

In Greek and Roman tradition, the waters around the Sorrento Peninsula were closely associated with the myth of the Sirens. Unlike the mermaid-like creatures commonly represented today, the Sirens of classical mythology were originally described as beings combining female and bird-like characteristics.

Their greatest power was their voice.

According to the legend, their irresistible song attracted sailors navigating through these waters. Those who heard it would lose control, steer toward the rocky coast and never complete their journey.

The exact geography of mythology is naturally difficult to define, and different ancient traditions associated the Sirens with different places around southern Italy. Nevertheless, Li Galli became one of the locations most strongly identified with the legendary Sirens, giving the islands a mythology that is still very much alive today.

It is easy to understand why. Seen from a boat, surrounded by open water and the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, the islands have exactly the kind of isolated, mysterious appearance from which ancient stories could emerge.

Ulysses and the Sirens | The legend behind Li Galli

The most famous story connected with the Sirens appears in Homer's Odyssey.

During his long voyage home after the Trojan War, Ulysses is warned by the sorceress Circe about the dangers he will encounter along his route. Among them are the Sirens, whose song is so beautiful that no sailor who hears it can resist.

Ulysses, however, does not want to avoid their song completely. He wants to hear it and survive.

His solution becomes one of the most famous episodes in ancient literature.

Before approaching the Sirens, Ulysses orders his sailors to block their ears with beeswax so they cannot hear the song. He then asks them to tie him firmly to the mast of the ship. No matter how desperately he begs to be released, they must continue rowing and ignore his commands until they have sailed safely beyond danger.

As the ship passes the Sirens, Ulysses hears their voices and immediately wants to follow them. He struggles against the ropes and orders his men to free him, but the sailors — unable to hear either the Sirens or their captain — tighten his bonds and keep sailing.

Eventually, the song fades away.

Ulysses has heard what no sailor was supposed to hear and lived to continue his journey.

The Amalfi Coast between history and mythology

The story of Ulysses is one of the reasons exploring this part of Italy feels different from simply visiting a beautiful seaside destination.

Along the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast, mythology is constantly intertwined with geography. Mountains, caves, islands and stretches of sea have inspired stories for thousands of years. Punta Campanella, at the extreme end of the Sorrento Peninsula, was associated in antiquity with the cult of Athena, while the surrounding waters have long been linked to stories of sailors, gods and Sirens.

Li Galli belong perfectly to this landscape.

Imagine approaching the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento by boat. Capri gradually disappears behind you, the coastline becomes steeper and more dramatic, and Positano begins to appear between the mountains. Before reaching it, the three islands emerge from the sea.

Knowing the legend changes the way you look at them.

They are no longer simply beautiful rocks offshore. They become part of a landscape that Mediterranean sailors have observed for centuries — a natural landmark transformed by generations of storytelling into the legendary home of the Sirens.

From the Sirens to Rudolf Nureyev | The modern history of Li Galli

The fascination of Li Galli did not disappear with the ancient world.

Over the centuries, the islands passed through different hands and eventually became associated with two important figures from the world of dance. In the twentieth century, Russian choreographer and dancer Léonide Massine purchased Gallo Lungo and transformed it into an extraordinary private retreat.

Later, the property was acquired by legendary ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who continued to use the island as an exclusive residence.

This more recent history added another layer to the mythology of Li Galli. A place once imagined as the home of creatures with irresistible voices became a retreat for artists whose careers were built around music, movement and performance.

Today the islands remain private, which contributes to their sense of mystery. For most travelers, Li Galli are experienced exactly as sailors would have experienced them for centuries: from the surrounding sea.

Can you swim at Li Galli?

Although the islands themselves are privately owned and landing is restricted, the surrounding waters offer an extraordinary setting for a swimming stop, subject of course to sea conditions and navigation regulations.

The water around Li Galli is famous for its intense shades of blue and the views are remarkable in every direction. From the sea, you can see the islands close by while Positano and the mountains of the Amalfi Coast create a dramatic backdrop in the distance.

Swimming here also has a completely different feeling once you know the story behind the islands. You are floating in the same stretch of Mediterranean that tradition has associated for centuries with the Sirens and the voyage of Ulysses.

It is one of those experiences that combines something very simple — jumping into the sea — with the history and imagination of the place.

Li Galli during a boat tour from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi

One of the easiest ways to see Li Galli during your trip to the Amalfi Coast is to include them naturally in a boat tour from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi.

The islands lie along the route between the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, which means you do not necessarily need to dedicate an entire day to visiting them. When traveling by boat, they can become one of the stops that make the journey itself part of the experience.

On a PDG Boat Tours excursion from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi, for example, it is possible to see Li Galli from the sea and, when weather and sea conditions allow, stop in the surrounding waters for a swim either on the way to the Amalfi Coast or during the return journey to Sorrento.

It is a completely different experience from simply moving from one town to another. You can spend time discovering Positano and Amalfi, but between destinations there is still something to see: cliffs, caves, secluded bays and the legendary islands associated with Ulysses and the Sirens.

This is one of the great advantages of exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat. There is no traffic to negotiate or parking to find, and the route can include places that simply cannot be experienced in the same way from land. Li Galli are a perfect example: three small islands, thousands of years of mythology and a stretch of blue Mediterranean where you can stop, dive in and — unlike Ulysses — enjoy the Sirens' sea without being tied to the mast.

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