Tuscan Archipelago
Other islands in the Tuscan Archipelago
Besides Elba,
other islands in the Tuscan Archipelago in order
of size are:
Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo,
Pianosa, Giannutri and Gorgona.
Giglio
Mountainous central zone with indented coastlines formed of small bays and inlets. Typical Mediterranean vegetation; holm-oak, scopa, scrub lands comprised mainly of cisto.
Giglio Castello, the small storic centre of the island, is found at an altitude of 400metres. The small fortress was constructed during the Pisan era and afterward, reinforced by the Tuscan Grand duke's nobels in an effort to defend the island from pirate attacks.
At the foot of the great walls is the island's main town, characturised by long stairways, intriguing alley ways and narrow streets. Port Giglio is the island's antique fishing village and the commercial heart of the island with shops, restaurants, offices and pastel colored seaside houses.
Other informations
area: 21,2 Kmq;
sviluppo costiero: 28 Km;
population: 1640;
distanza dal continente: 13 km;
collegamenti: imbarco da Porto Santo Stefano (Argentario) con traghetti Toremar, la durata
della traversata è di circa un'ora.
Montecristo
Inaccessible for both natural and legislative reasons, Montecristo is infact morphologically simular to a rocky cone, with a steep coast line that drops dramatically into the deep colbalt blue sea that surrounds the island. Montecristo is a natural reserve.
Capraia
With vulcanic origins, Capraia is predominantly mountainous with a steep coastline and a wealth of typical Mediterranean vegetation. Toward the end of the 80's the penal colony, that obviously prevented tourism on the island, was closed. This opened the island to the outside world, leaving visitors to experience Capraia's wealth of natural beauty and history.
Other informations
area: 19,3 Kmq.;
sviluppo costiero: 27 Km;
population: 360;
distanza dal continente: 64 Km;
collegamenti: imbarco a Livorno con traghetti Toremar, la
durata della traversata è di circa tre ore.
Giannutri
During the winter months, this island is practically deserted. The few houses to be found on the island are sparse unevenly over her territory.
Extraordinary are the island's bays and inlets, highlighted by a crystal clear sea.
Gorgona
Ex-penal colony that has just recently opened to visitors. A local organization operates tours to the island (ph. 0565/895206). Calcareous origins, hilly surface rich with typical Mediterranean vegetation.
Pianosa
This island's territory is comprised of a flat, even surface, the highest point being no greater than 27 metres. The island was used until recently as a maximum security prison, making the island almost completely inaccessible.
Even navigation within one nautical mile of the island was forbidden until recently, most likely contributing to the preservation of the island's natural patrimony, on the actual island itself and in the sea that surrounds her.
