Giglio Island is located in the Tuscan archipelago, facing mout Argentario. It’s a real treasure to discover, far from touristic flows.

With its 21 square kilometers of extension, it’s the second biggest island of the Tuscan archipelago. Giglio island is well known for its natural beauty: a crystal clear emerald-green sea with a rich seabed in flora and fauna framing a still 90% wild territory.

 

The island offers to those passionate about seascape beautiful beaches and a variety of shores with isolated coves of rare beauty.

Its clear water hosts a fascinating world for those who love diving. The uncontaminated territory invites you to take the chance and explore the many pedestrian routes which offer a breathtaking overview of the archipelago.

There are three main places to visit:

• Giglio Campese. Located in the centre of a fascinating bay framed on the left by the “faraglione” (a monolithic rock that surfaces the sea by 20 metres), on the right by point “fenaio” (northern part of the island with the homonym lighthouse). Winds blowing from the south make of Campese bay a perfect location for surfing and sailing sports, while the west exposition of the bay makes of it the perfect stage to witness wonderful sunsets. There’s a majestic Medicean tower, a symbol of Campese, built during the 18th century to supervise the fishing area. It dominates the biggest beach of the island here situated, wide and long with a granular dark-red coloured sand. The sea-bottom rapidly reach 1-1,5 metres of depth. From the beach, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the bay and the sun until late in the evening thanks to its west orientation.

• Giglio Castello. A suggestive medieval hamlet with its castle rising against the upland of the island. The environment seems frozen in time. The castle was erected by Pisa’s population in the 12th century, enlarged and restored many times by grand dukes of Tuscany, moreover the stronghold is surrounded by impressive walls. The tight alleys surmounted by arches and the elevated view over the archipelago give this place a unique fascination.

• Giglio Porto. It’s a small but picturesque harbor with small and colorful houses. The water is still crystal clear despite the rarity of this feature in harbor areas. There’s plenty of shops, boutiques and restaurants of all sort walking through the alleys. It’s possible to find many ice-cream parlors and bars as well. You can find here the starting point to visit the island by land or by sea.

 

Its territory, still wild and uncontaminated, encourages to travel along the several walkable paths far away from touristic flows, with breathtaking landscapes and scents of the Mediterranean scrub. These paths bring to shore areas and beaches reachable only by foot or by sea, perfect for a day in absolute cosiness and intimacy.

Most of the island is covered by a typical flora of the Mediterranean scrub. The only forest present at Giglio is a beautiful pine grove located upon a promontory north of Giglio Castello, near the old lighthouse (Vecchio Faro). There are many small vineyards at the top of the sheer cliffs around the island, where it’s produced the traditional wine Ansonco.