- Giglio Island: a paradise in the Tyrrhenian Sea
- The beaches: Campese, Giglio Porto and Cala delle Cannelle
- Giglio Castello: the medieval village on the island
- How to reach Giglio Island from Tuscany
- How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
- Conclusion
There is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea that seems to come from a dream. Giglio Island has water of an incredibly pure turquoise, beaches hidden among Mediterranean scrub, and at its highest point a medieval village that seems to challenge the sky. It is not Sardinia, not Greece: it is Tuscany by the sea, intact and marvellous.
One of the most special day trips you can make from Poggibonsi: in about two hours you leave the Chianti countryside and find yourself on an island where the world stops.
Giglio Island: a paradise in the Tyrrhenian Sea
Giglio is an island of about 21 square kilometres in the Tuscan Archipelago, 14 km from the coast of Porto Santo Stefano. The vegetation is dense: Mediterranean scrub, holm oaks, rosemary and thyme scenting the warm air. There are very few roads, and they are narrow. Cars are left at the port. The island is explored on foot or by bicycle, rediscovering the slow rhythm that life should always have.The water has a rare and moving clarity: you can see the seabed, groupers, octopuses, sea urchins. Giglio is one of the favourite destinations for divers and snorkelling enthusiasts.
The beaches: Campese, Giglio Porto and Cala delle Cannelle
Campese is the largest and most accessible beach on the island, on the west coast. The 16th-century Spanish tower looming above it gives the bay a romantic and picturesque air. Giglio Porto is the ferry arrival point: the small village of colourful houses is already in itself a lively and Mediterranean spectacle.Cala delle Cannelle, reachable on foot from Giglio Porto in about 20 minutes, is one of the island's most beautiful and evocative coves: emerald green waters, white pebbles, absolute peace.Giglio Castello: the medieval village on the island
At the top of the island, 405 metres above sea level, Giglio Castello is one of the most intact and least-known medieval villages in Tuscany. The Spanish enclosure walls, narrow alleys, bell tower, small church: everything here speaks of a remote and fascinating history of pirates, Saracens and Pisan dominion.
The view from Giglio Castello over the sea is breathtaking: the Argentario, Monte Amiata, Montecristo in the distance. A profound silence broken only by the wind and the bells. You understand why someone might choose to live here all year round.
How to reach Giglio Island from Tuscany
The ferry to Giglio departs from Porto Santo Stefano (GR), reachable by car from Poggibonsi in about an hour and a half. Maregiglio and Toremar companies operate crossings of 1 hour 15 minutes. In summer ferries are frequent, but booking in advance is advisable. An alternative is to depart from Livorno with the direct Tuscan Archipelago ferry.
How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
From Hotel La Magione in Poggibonsi, Porto Santo Stefano is about 90 minutes by car (A1 to Grosseto or SS223 della Palude). Leaving early in the morning, you arrive at the port in time for the first morning crossing. The hotel is the ideal base for a day or weekend trip to Giglio Island.
Conclusion
Giglio Island is the destination you want to keep secret, afraid the world will discover it and spoil it. Take a day, or better a weekend, and let yourself be enveloped by the silence of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You will return with that peace in your soul that only the sea can give.
Ready to experience Tuscany?Hotel La Magione is your perfect base.
Book your stayand let yourself be captivated by Tuscan magic.