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Tuscan Archipelago National Park

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  1. Island of Elba
  2. The Island of Elba
  3. Tuscan Archipelago National Park
    • European Card of Eco-Friendly Tourism
    • CETS: the aim of the Park
    • Park Offices
    • The seven islands
    • Excursions to the Tuscan islands
    • Sea turtles' nests
    • International Cetacean Sanctuary
    • The Butterfly Sanctuary
    • Tuscany Islands UNESCO MaB
    • Resto con Life

Elba, as well as another six other islands, is part of the National Park

The Tuscan Archipelago National Park covers over 600 square kilometres of sea that go from Livorno to the Argentario promontory, and it includes seven islands in all:Capraia, Elba, Giannutri, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo, Pianosa, as well as the Formiche of Grosseto and other small rocks. The biggest island is Elba (223,5 square km), and the smallest is Gorgona (2,23 square km). The island furthest from the mainland is Montecristo, at a distance of 68 km, while Capraia is only 34 km from Elba.

Despite their being so small, the differences in the type of territory from one island to the other are remarkable: Elba's territory is segmented and complex, Pianosa is flat, Montecristo is shaped like a rocky cone. Along the coastline that has been shaped by the waves, cliffs and grottos alternate with tiny beaches sheltered by wild promontories, and colourful flowers cover the rocks and turret masts so as to remind us that man's presence on the island goes back thousands of years.

Land and morphology depend on the geolocical origins of each island. Gorgona and Montecristo come entirely from granites, Giglio and Elba from both granites and sedimentary rocks (limestone and marl), Giannutri and Pianosa from limestone. Capraia from magmatic rock, both intrusive and effusive.

Before the arrival of tourism, mining was the main industry and source of income for the islands. As the years passed it became more and more important, and the effects of this on the vegetation can still be seen today: an enormous amount of charcoal was needed for timbering the mines and then working the minerals, and this explains why today there are hardly any holm-oaks to be seen. The characteristic layer of vegetation of the islands has now become "high": heather, arbutus berry trees, lentisks and myrtle.

In the windy areas, on the other hand, we find the "short" layer of vegetation, with mostly red and sea cistus. A beautiful wood full of hornbeam, alder, chestnut trees, as well as yew trees, can be found on the sides of Monte Capanne, on the Island of Elba. Endemisms like the violas and the cornflours of Elba, or the toadflax of Capraia, are vey important, because they don't grow on all the islands.

The fauna consists mainly of birds: the herring gull (600 nesting pairs), the gull (about 200 pairs), the cormorant (30 pairs), the shearwater, the raven, the peregrine falcon, the thrush, the wild pigeon. There are also many migratory birds too.

The sea around all these islands is like an immense field where all the characteristic Tyrrhenian Sea flora grows: posidonia, sea grass, sea anemonies, coral and starfish. There are also different species of dolphins, as well as the dusky grouper and the rare moonfish. An odd time some sperm whales and fin whales are sighted. Very, very rarely some monk seals are sighted.

Information from the Tuscan Archipelago Tourism Promotion Office

Useful information

Enjoy the Park »

Tuscan Archipelago National Park
Portoferraio - Località Enfola
Tel.0565.919411 - Fax 0565.913350 - website: www.islepark.it

Tuscan Archipelago InfoPark
Tuscan Archipelago National Park tourism information centre
Portoferraio - Calata Italia num. 4
Tel. 0565.908231 - info@parcoarcipelago.info - web site: www.parcoarcipelago.info

European Card of Eco-Friendly Tourism

One of the projects carried out by the PNAT is how to obtain a CETS: the European Card of Eco-Friendly Tourism.

CETS: the aim of the Park

The Park has started the procedure for obtaining the CETS and in 2016 was given a positive assessment on behalf of the Europarc.

Park Offices

Park Offices: information centres and communication points for visitors to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
Info Park Portoferraio
The information offices of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park aim at giving tourists a friendly, naturalistic welcome in an eco friendly environment.

CEA and visiting Centre in Marciana
Information leaflets available here written by the Park Authorities plus the chance to take part in a more detailed visit.

CEA and visiting Centre in Rio nell'Elba
A valid reference and meeting point of the Park, that aims at promoting the characteristics of the mining traditions of the eastern side of Elba.

CEA and Info Park Lacona
The Environmental Education Centre in Lacona is also an Info Park and provides tourists with information.

Info Park Pianosa
If you wish information about visiting and going on an excursion on the Island of Pianosa just contact the staff at the Park Authority offices.

CEA Capraia
Here you will be given all the information you need to appreciate the beauty of the Island of Capraia to the full.

Giglio Info Park
It provides a naturalistic tourist welcome as well as information and bookings for all the activities in Giglio and Giannutri

Montecristo Info Park
The new InfoPoint built within the old Fishermen's Shed

The seven islands

Elba is one of the 7 islands that make up the Tuscan Archipelago, the others are: Giglio, Montecristo, Capraia, Pianosa, Giannutri and Gorgona.
Island of Montecristo
Montecristo, famous thanks to the novel "The Count of Monecristo" by Dumas, is one of the most rugged and inaccessible islands in the Tuscan Archipelago.

Island of Pianosa
Island of Pianosa in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park that up till 1997 was a maximum security penal settlement.

Island of Capraia
Capraia, the only volcanic island in the Tuscan Archipelago, at a distance of 54 km is one of the farthest islands from the mainland

Island of Giglio
Giglio, sadly famous today because of the Concordia disaster, is better known in the archipelago thanks to its unique environment and crystal clear sea

Island of Giannutri
The Island of Giannutri is also called Seagull Island, because every year many herring gulls choose to make their nests there.

Island of Gorgona
Gorgona, one of the islands in the Tuscan Archipelago where there is also a penal settlement, where the prisoners work the land and look after the animals.

Excursions to the Tuscan islands

Several shipping companies offer excursions and mini cruises from the Island of Elba to other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Visiting Montecristo
Thanks to the connections set up by the Park, you can now go on a daily tour of the Island of Montecristo, depending if days requested have been authorized.

Getting to Pianosa
You can go to Pianosa all year round, departure is from the port in Marina di Campo.

Getting to Capraia
In the summer you can get to Capraia from Portoferraio and Marciana Marina.

Getting to Giglio
Giglio can become the perfect destination for a one day excursion to the second largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago.

Visiting Giannutri
All year round you can get to the island from Porto Santo Stefano while in summer from the island of Giglio.

Visiting Gorgona
Thanks to the connections set up by the Park you can go on a daily excursion to the island from both Livorno and the Island of Elba

Sea turtles' nests

Find a nest and you find a treasure: useful information if you're looking for sea turtles nests and the best way to protect them.

International Cetacean Sanctuary

The International Sanctuary of Marine Mammals is a protected area created in 1999 thanks to an agreement between Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco.

The Butterfly Sanctuary

The Butterfly Sanctuary is an unforgettable walk where you will be able to admire over 50 different species of butterflies, some endemic of the Island of Elba.

Tuscany Islands UNESCO MaB

The UNESCO MaB Reserve of the Tuscany Islands consists of the seven Archipelago islands as well as other small islands between the Tuscan coast and Corsica.

Resto con Life

Resto con Life is a project that aims at improving the conditions of natural habitats as well as rare, animal and plant species in the Tuscan islands.
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Read more

  • Get to Elba
  • How to get there
  • Ferries
  • Getting about on the island
  • Hire
  • Stay
  • Accommodation that is open all year round
  • Hotels
  • Residences
  • Bed & Breakfasts
  • Apartments
  • Small villas and detached houses
  • Villas
  • Farm holiday centres
  • Campsites
  • Camper and caravan
  • Farm holiday campsites
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Tourist agencies and realtors
  • Eat
  • Restaurants and Pizzerias
  • Food & Wine Experience
  • Local recipes
  • Wines
  • Herbs and typical products
  • Typical dishes
  • Useful information
  • ElbaOK Insurance
  • Useful phone numbers and addresses
  • Weather
  • Webcams
  • Apps for your smartphone
  • Visit Elba
  • Beaches and coasts
  • Places to see
  • Tuscan Archipelago National Park
  • Guided excursions
  • Useful advice
  • Maps of the Island of Elba
  • I am...
  • Recommended itineraries
  • Sports and free time
  • Water sports
  • Land sports
  • Elba not to be missed
  • Outdoor sports
  • Enjoyment and relaxation
  • Courses and study trips
  • Shopping
  • Special events and exhibitions
  • Discovering Elba
  • How many beaches are there in Elba?
  • Paths and tracksin Elba
  • Elba in winter
  • Interesting facts
  • History of Elba
  • Geology of Elba
  • Towns of Elba
  • Media Gallery
  • Webcams

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