The ideal destination for those sailing with friends or family, the Isola del Giglio offers superb scenery both above and below water. Hardly surprising then that it’s a top destination with Italian and international scuba divers. It has plenty of beauty to admire inland too; discovering the island’s natural features is a fascinating experience.
The Isola del Giglio is the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, and is quite close to the coast of Tuscany. It’s also one of the archipelago’s most beautiful islands, with a total surface area of 22 sq. km and around 12 NM of striking coastline offering a spectacular blend of sandy beaches, tiny coves, cliffs and mountainous scenery. Lush woods and abundant vineyards producing the local ‘Ansonica’ wine ensure that the landscape is interesting at every turn. The coast is simply spectacular, with rocks, smooth stone beaches and various bays. We defy you to get bored here! There are several shipwrecks off Giglio, offering scuba divers an impressive range of underwater sites to explore. With more than 90% of its surface area uninhabited, the island of Giglio is a not-to-be-missed port of call for any sailing holiday in Tuscany.
The island’s towns are unique and worth a visit; in particular, the town of Giglio Castello is the oldest on the island and is perched upon its highest point. It has maintained its original appearance of a medieval fortified village, surrounded by tall medieval walls and towers. On a clear day, a walk around the fortified town offers breathtaking views of the coast and the other islands in the Tuscan archipelago. It can be reached by bus, taxi or on foot: 6km from Campese, 5 km from Giglio Porto.
There’s just one port on the island of Giglio, situated in the aptly-named, picturesque Giglio Porto. If you can find a berth in the harbour itself, it’s worth a visit. There are also various inlets for anchorage: on the east coast just south of Giglio Porto there are Cala Cannelle and Cala delle Caldane while on the north coast is Campese, which is well-sheltered from south winds.
There are plenty of bases in Tuscany where one can charter a boat to sail to Giglio: the closest are Cala Galera and Porto Ercole on the Argentario coast just opposite the island of Giglio, both just 15 NM away; alternatively, the bases at Punta Ala, Salivoli and Scarlino are 25, 30 and 35 NM away respectively.
ItalyCharter offers a wide, handpicked fleet to choose from; click on the links below to compare the available options:
Yachts for charter to Isola del Giglio