Island of Giglio

The Island of Giglio is located opposite the Argentario Promontory. It is the second largest island after Elba, with an area of approximately 21 km².

The island's rocks are mainly granite, except for the Franco Promontory, which stands out for its sedimentary rocks and its proximity to iron ore deposits. The island has a mountainous nature, with the highest peak, Poggio della Pagana, located in the central area of the island at an elevation of 496 meters above sea level.

The Municipality of Isola del Giglio, which also includes the island of Giannutri, is located in the province of Grosseto and has about 1400 inhabitants distributed across the three settlements on the island.

Giglio Castello, the island's main town, is a medieval village strategically located in the higher, inland area of the island. Giglio Porto, the old fishing village, is now the commercial heart of the island and serves as the harbor for most boats. From here, you can admire the characteristic pastel-colored houses along the waterfront, the Saracen Tower, and the two lighthouses located on the respective piers. On the western part of the island, Giglio Campese is the most popular beach area, frequented by tourists and diving enthusiasts, who are captivated by the famous sea stack and unforgettable sunsets. The Gulf of Campese also features the homonymous Tower, built for ship and pirate lookout.

The vegetation of Giglio Island was once dominated by oak and cork forests and terraced vineyards that covered almost the entire island. Today, except for the old lighthouse area where reforestation with domestic and maritime pines has been carried out, the Mediterranean scrub covers much of the island.

Fun Fact: In 1900, the botanist Sommier conducted a study on the flora of Giglio, discovering about 700 species, including some rare and endemic ones.

Regarding fauna, Giglio does not host many animals, but there are some rare species, including the Sardinian Discoglossus, a frog native to the Sardinian-Corsican area, and the Sicilian Tyrrhenian lizard, which is also found on the island of Giannutri.

Giglio is renowned for its marvelous marine environment, as the crystal-clear sea and seabeds are the island's highlight. Underwater, you can find numerous species of moray eels, lobsters, groupers, and giant tunas. In spring and summer, it is also common to observe the passage of sperm whales and fin whales or see dolphins playing as they follow the routes of boats.