Monte Cristo is Italian for "The mountain of Christ", which has led some to believe it is the reason Dumas picked it for the book.
The island is remote and kept by the Italian government as a nature preserve and hunting park, and only accessible by private yacht and permit. There are no structures on the island, though it was formerly the site of a prominent monastery, San Mamiliano, whose ruins remain visible.
As of 2008 there are plans of opening the island to limited tourist traffic.