Tuscan Islands in Italy

The Tuscan Archipelago are 7 islands, Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Montecristo, Capraia, Gorgona and the island Pianosa. Not all islands are inhabited to the park called Parco Nazionale dell'Archipelago Toscano a conservation area which almost covers the entire archipelago and was founded and established in 1991. The islands of Elba, Pianosa, Gorgona and Montecristo belong to the province of Livorno, Giglio and Giannutri however belong to the province of Grosseto.

Inhabited are the largest island Elba and the two smaller islands Capraia and the island Isola del Giglio. On the island Gorgona is located a prison which occpies the majority od the island. There are about 300 convicts on the island which can be visited by tourists once a week. Every Tuesday the Cooperative of the National Park makes a tour which also contains a brief stop at Gorgona.

Montecristo is also uninhabited, except the ruins of the monastery from the 13th century and a nature reserve which can be visited only with special permits. The same applies to the small island of Pianosa.

Giglio is a pure island park but can be visited by visitors. This remote island is really interesting for divers because the coast around this island offers a variety of marine organisms.

On Giglio there are two beaches one of them called Cala Maestra, where should be prohibited to bathing for the visitor-growth in the recent years.

Around 1000 people arrives daily on this island in the summer months and inadvertently destroy a part of the flora and fauna which are actually under protection.