Tuscan Archipelago

<< Tuscany

The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano) is a group of islands located between Tuscany and Corsica. The largest island is Elba, which is part of the Province of Livorno along with most of the archipelago. The two southernmost islands, Giglio and Giannutri, are instead part of the Province of Grosseto, and together form the municipality of Isola del Giglio. Most of the islands feature beautiful beaches and clear waters.

Elba Island

Elba is the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia, and it is located off the coast of Tuscany, forming part of the Province of Livorno. The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as attested by the presence of ancient ruins, tombs, and megalithic sites. Elba was settled by the Etruscans and the Romans, and it became a possession of the Republic of Pisa during the Middle Ages. Over the following centuries, the island was divided, with Tuscany, the State of the Presidi (which was ruled by Spain, then Austria, and later the Kingdom of Naples), and Piombino ruling over different parts of Elba. In 1814 Napoleon was exiled to Elba, and he ruled the island under the Principality of Elba. However, Napoleon escaped to France the following year, before being definitively defeated. The island then became part of Tuscany and eventually Italy. Elba is now a popular tourist destination, thanks to its beautiful beaches and hills, and many historic sites. Elba is divided into seven municipalities, with the largest town being Portoferraio, and it is the main island of the Tuscan Archipelago.

Villa di San Martino

Villa di San Martino is one of the former residences of Napoleon on Elba, located at the foot of the hills southwest of Portoferraio. The villa features various richly adorned halls with several decorations and artworks. After the death of Napoleon, the palace was reworked with the addition of a Neoclassical gallery. The villa now serves as a museum dedicated to Napoleon.

Palazzina dei Mulini

The Palazzina dei Mulini is an 18th-century villa that served as one of the residences of Napoleon during his exile to Elba. The palace is located along the northern coast of Portoferraio, and now serves as a museum. The villa houses various historic pieces of furniture, a library, and several artworks.

Forts of Portoferraio

Portoferraio is the main town and port of Elba. During the 16th and 17th century, under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, two large forts were built to protect the town, Forte Falcone and Forte Stella. Forte Falcone is located west of the old town of Portoferraio, while Forte Stella is along the eastern coast of the city.

Roman Villa of Linguella

The promontory of Linguella, located east of the port of Portoferraio, features the archaeological ruins of a Roman villa (Villa Romana della Linguella) erected in various phases between the 1st century BCE and the 5th century CE. A small archaeological museum is just outside the ruins, while the end of the promontory features a 16th-century coastal tower that once served as a prison.

Roman Villa of Le Grotte

The Roman Villa of Le Grotte (Villa Romana delle Grotte) is located along the coast of Elba Island, facing the gulf of Portoferraio. Erected starting in the 1st century BCE and later reworked a few times, the villa was one of the most luxurious Roman residences in the area. Various ancient objects and artworks have been found during the excavations on this site.

Elba Aquarium

The Elba Aquarium (Acquario dell’Elba) is an aquarium located near Marina di Campo on Elba Island. The aquarium is dedicated to the environment of the Mediterranean Sea, and it houses hundreds of different species of marine creatures.

Monte Capanne Cableway

Monte Capanne is the highest peak of Elba, located near Marciana on the western side of the island. The top of the mountain can be reached with a cableway from Marciana, and it offers a wonderful 360-degree view over the hills and mountain on the western side of Elba.

Archaeological Museum of Marciana

The Archaeological Museum of Marciana (Museo Archeologico di Marciana) is a museum hosting various archaeological finds unearthed on Elba. Part of its collection are various objects and artworks from various prehistoric, Etruscan, and Roman settlements on the island, along with some pieces dating from the Middle Ages.

Minor Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago

Around Elba are various small islands that part of the Tuscan Archipelago and the Province of Livorno, such as Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo, and Gorgona.

Capraia

Capraia is an island located northwest of Elba in the Tuscan Archipelago. The island was ruled by Genoa since the 13th century, and it remained part of its province after the Italian unification, being transfered to Livorno only in 1925. The main historic site of Capraia is Forte di San Giorgio, a fortified complex built by the Genoese in the 16th century on the eastern coast of the island. Capraia also features a few more ancient towers, and it is mostly occupied by hills covered in forests.

Pianosa

Pianosa is an island of the Tuscan Archipelago located southwest of Elba. Previously used as a penal colony, Pianosa can now be visited by a limited number of tourists with guided tours. The main attraction here is the 19th-century fortified complex of Forte Teglia and Palazzo della Specola.

Montecristo

Montecristo is a small rocky island in the Tuscan Archipelago, south of Pianosa. The island once hosted the medieval Monastery of San Mamiliano (Monastero di San Mamiliano), which was destroyed by pirates in the 16th century and it is now in ruins. Nearby, there are also the ruins of a fortress built in the Late Middle Ages and later abandoned. The island became famous as one of the settings of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, but it can only be visited by a few authorized tourists, as it is a nature reserve.

Gorgona

Gorgona is the northernmost island of the Tuscan Archipelago. Since it hosts a prison, tourists can only visit the island with a guided tour and with authorization of local authorities. The island features a few historic towers and religious sites.

Isola del Giglio

Isola del Giglio is a municipality in the Province of Grosseto which includes the two southernmost islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Giglio and Giannutri, located off the coast of Monte Argentario. The islands feature numerous beautiful beaches and are popular tourist destinations.

✪ Giglio Island

Giglio Island (Isola del Giglio) is the second largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago, after Elba, and it gives its name to the entire municipality of Isola del Giglio. The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and now it houses three main settlements: Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello, and Giglio Campese. Giglio Porto hosts the harbor of the island, and it is infamous for being the place where the cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a rock formation and partially sank just off the coast of the town in 2012. Giglio Castello is located on top of a hill at the center of the island, and it features various ancient buildings such as the Rocca Aldobrandesca, a medieval castle. Giglio Campese is a small village located on the western coast of the island. There are several beautiful beaches along the coast of the island, while the interior offers hiking trails among the hills.

Giannutri

Giannutri is the southernmost island of the Tuscan Archipelago, and it forms part of the municipality of Isola del Giglio. The island has only a few inhabitants, and it features various beaches and the ruins of a Roman villa built in the 2nd century.