Legend has it that when Venus was born from the waves, seven precious stones fell from her tiara, creating seven islands off the Tuscan coast. These islands – called Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo and Gorgona – form the Tuscan Archipelago, the largest marine park in Europe. Several islets in the archipelago include Cerboli, Formiche di Grosseto, Isola della Cappa, Scoglietto di Portoferraio – among others.

The Arcipelago Toscano National Park extends 166 kilometres (103 mi) from the northernmost island (Gorgona) to the southernmost (Giannutri) and 56 kilometres (35 mi) from the westernmost (Capraia) to the Tuscan coast.

Elba is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago (and the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia). Tiny Montecristo is the wildest and most solitary island: it’s no surprise that Alexandre Dumas used it to set some key scenes from his celebrated novel “The Count of Montecristo”.

What to do in the Tuscan Archipelago

Besides superb boat tours to explore their wild coasts and picturesque marinas, activities for you to enjoy here include mountain biking, diving and snorkelling, trekking, bird watching, free climbing, kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

You can also enjoy some seaside archaeology, as the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago are home to the remains of ancient villas, shipwrecks and curious prehistoric discoveries!

Wine & Food

If you love wine, taste local products like Elba’s Aleatico red wine and Giglio’s Ansonaco white wine. You will also find a variety of traditional dishes to try, not only with fresh fish but also meat-based, such as coniglio alla cacciatora (rabbit cooked with tomatoes, Mediterranean spices and chilli).

How to reach the islands of the Tuscan archipelago

You can get to most islands with private boat tours departing from the Tuscan mainland or with scheduled ferries. The availability of transportation and tours is subject to seasonality and weather conditions.

• Elba can be reached from Piombino by ferry.
• Giglio and Giannutri islands can be reached from Porto Santo Stefano by ferry.
• Capraia and Gorgona can be reached by ferry from Livorno.
• Pianosa can be reached from Elba and Piombino.
• Access to Montecristo is strictly regulated because it is one of the most important islands for the protection of the biodiversity of the Tuscan Archipelago and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

You can learn more about the transportation options and availability throughout the year on the Visit Tuscany website.

Source: Visit Tuscany