The Tuscan Archipelago National Park is the largest marine park in Europe. It includes the seven main islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, each unique in terms of beauty. According to studies, the islands broke away from the mainland assuming different characters: Capraia volcanic, Gorgona and Montecristo granitics , Giglio and Elbe granitics and limestones, Giannutri and Pianosa only limestones. The islands of the Archipelago are true sanctuaries of nature that have been able to ward off the tourist-speculative interests: Montecristo, once inhabited only by monks and hermits, is now the most protected island in the Mediterranean, only accessible for study. The relief of the islands favor the presence of mesophilic species such as the fern on Monte Capanne, on whose slopes is also increasing cornflower of Elbe. On the island of Giglio are Turkey oak, downy oak and oak, and Gorgona flowering ash and bulbocastano. The Capraia flora is all Mediterranean: garrigue and maquis, the Sardinian sea lily, saffron of the islands and the statice articulated. The fauna of the Park has the largest number of endemic species such as certain types of gastropod mollusks, butterfly satiride and some types of lizards. On Elba and Capraia nests the peregrine falcons, and on Giglio lives the woodpecker. Among gulls, shearwaters, swallows and swifts, the real rarity is the Audouin’s gull, the symbol of the park.
Top attractions to see in the Tuscan Archipelago
The Tuscan Archipelago is a natural paradise for nautical sports in the blue sea, surrounded by beaches of Caribbean flavor and uncontaminated nature. The Tuscan Archipelago is made up of seven major islands, the largest of which is the Elbe, and several smaller, dry and cliffs located between the mainland and Corsica. The major islands are: Elba, Lily, Capraia, Pianosa. Those minors: Montecristo, Gorgona, Giannutri. Contrasting and harmonious colors and environments at the same time: intense blue of the sea, green of the lush Mediterranean scrub, small beaches, steep walls, rocks, golf courses, coves, coves. Particularly important is the fact that the entire area is part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, the largest marine park in Europe.
Main Attractions of Tuscan Aechipelago
. Elba Island
. Giglio Island
. Capraia Island
. Porto Azzurro
. Capoliveri
. Giglio Porto
. National Park of Tuscan Archipelago
. Aquarium of the Elba Island
. Beaches: Felciaio, Procchio, Ripa Barata
. Fortress of San Giorgio
. Wreck of the Nasim
. Diving and fishing tourism
. Water Sports
Most of the islands are full of historical testimonies of the Roman era (Giannutri and Pianosa), Medici, of Spanish domination, of the brief but important Napoleonic bracket. Significant poly museums are located in Portoferraio, Marciana, Rio nell’Elba.
Also in the archipelago the cuisine is dominated by fishery specialties: fish soup, stockfish, codfish, crustaceans. Limited in production but of excellent quality wines: red, white, Elba Ansonica, sweet Aleatico. Numerous, especially during the summer, popular festivals and festivals. Among them, the Feast of the Innamorata in Capoliveri is perhaps the most well-known. But also the Palio Marinaro that takes place at the Island of Giglio is a successful event.
Visiting the Tuscan islands with scheduled services
The Tuscan Archipelago is the set of islands located in the waters near the Tuscany Region, between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. They are (in decreasing order of magnitude) the island of Elba and the islands of Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, Gorgona (for a total of 292 square kilometers), the smaller islands of Palmaiola and Cerboli, as well as the so-called Ants of Grosseto. Then there are a whole series of islets, shoals and outcropping rocks.
The grouping is largely included within a protected natural area (the Tuscan Archipelago National Park). Almost all of the Park is part of the Province of Livorno, with the exception of Giglio and Giannutri which belong to the Province of Grosseto.
Almost all the major islands can be visited by traveling with scheduled ferries. Here, below, which they are and all the details to know to land in these territories where the beauty of nature is still bursting. They are :
Elba
The island of Elba, on which there are three ports, can be reached from the port of Piombino. The ferries that arrive in Portoferraio are that of the shipping companies Toremar, Moby and BluNavy, which cover thirteen and a half nautical miles in an hour, and the hydrofoils (which only carry passengers without vehicles) of the Toremar, which take forty minutes.
Giglio
You can reach the island of Giglio from Porto Santo Stefano (capital of the municipality of Monte Argentario). The carrier of the shipping company Toremar takes one hour to cover the eleven nautical miles away. During the summer it is not allowed to disembark with a vehicle.
Capraia
To get to the island of Capraia there are the means of the Toremar fleet, which depart from the port of Livorno. The duration of the navigation of the thirty-seven nautical miles is two hours and forty-five minutes. Also in this case, in the summer the limitation to the influx and circulation of vehicles is active, also because on the island there is only one driveway (800 meters long).
Pianosa
Pianosa was the site of a prison and it is currently open to visitors, but visits are limited and with guided tours. To reach the island there is one run a week departing from Piombino and an intermediate stop in Rio Marina. The ferries to the island of Pianosa are the regular ones (Toremar) which take two hours and fifty minutes to navigate the thirty-one nautical miles.
Giannutri
The island of Giannutri is connected to Porto Santo Stefano. The twelve nautical miles of distance are completed (by motor ship) in fifty minutes. There are not many races during the winter, while they are daily during the summer season, with departure and return within the day.
Gorgona
Gorgona is home to an agricultural penal colony, and can be visited. You can arrive on the island by motorboat in an hour and thirty minutes (it is 20 nautical miles) departing from the port of Livorno. Reservation is mandatory. Upon disembarkation, an identity document must be shown, as well as the documents issued by the company at the time of booking. The visit can only take place accompanied by an environmental hiking guide.