Which sea separates Italy from the Balkan Peninsula?
Quick answer
The Adriatic Sea separates Italy from the Balkan Peninsula. It’s a long, narrow arm of the Mediterranean Sea, about 800 km (500 mi) long, stretching from Venice in the north to the Strait of Otranto in the south, where it meets the Ionian Sea. Croatia’s coast alone has more than 1,000 islands.
Key facts
- Length
- About 800 km (500 mi)
- Width
- About 95–200 km
- Southern outlet
- Strait of Otranto, to the Ionian Sea
- Name from
- The ancient port of Adria
Countries on the Adriatic
| Side | Countries |
|---|---|
| West | Italy |
| East (Balkans) | Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania |
Bosnia and Herzegovina has only about 20 km of coastline, around the town of Neum. Slovenia’s coast is also short; see the country whose capital is Ljubljana.
The name
The sea is named after Adria, an ancient port town in northern Italy, which was once on the coast but is now more than 20 km inland because river sediments have built up the land.
Famous Adriatic places
| Place | Country | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Venice | Italy | Canals; see the city of canals and gondolas |
| Dubrovnik | Croatia | Walled old town, a Game of Thrones filming location |
| Split | Croatia | Diocletian’s Palace, a Roman emperor’s retirement home |
| Kotor | Montenegro | Fjord-like bay surrounded by mountains |
| Rimini | Italy | Long sandy beaches |
| Trieste | Italy | A port city with Austro-Hungarian history |
Two very different coasts
The Italian coast is mostly low and sandy, with long beaches. The eastern coast is rocky and indented, with countless islands, bays and clear water. Croatia has more than 1,200 islands, islets and reefs.
Acqua alta
High tides and southerly winds can push water up the narrow Adriatic, causing flooding in Venice; tides are explained in what causes tides.
Just south of the Adriatic lies Greece; for one of its most famous ancient cities, see what Sparta was known for.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.