In the 14th century it was named Insulam Palmarole because of the abundance of the Mediterranean dwarf palm at that time.

It is integrated in the European Union Special Protection Area as Site of Community Importance and it is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park.

Palmaiola has the advantage of having inaccessible cliffs and a bushy and low vegetation as the garrigue, formed by evergreen plants.

Consequently, the European shag, the Scopoli's shearwater, the Falco peregrinus, and the Audouin's gull find it a safe place to nest.

It has a solar power unit and emits an alternating single white flashing in a five seconds period visible up to 10 nautical miles.