Isola Del Giglio: Coast, Nature and Cultural Heritage

The island offers concrete ways to explore all three themes. It is mostly mountainous, with beaches in coves.

Landscape and Nature on Isola Del Giglio

A mountain range runs across the island from northwest to southeast. Its highest point is Poggio della Pagana, at 496 metres above sea level. Almost all of Isola Del Giglio consists of granite. A small exception is Promontorio del Franco, with its sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. In the southwest, part of the island lies within the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano.

Mediterranean scrub is increasingly spreading across terraces that were once cultivated as vineyards. The island’s flora includes more than 700 plant and flower species. Migratory birds also use Isola Del Giglio as a resting and feeding place during their long journeys. The rare Audouin’s gull is one of the island’s resident bird species and is also the symbol of the park.

Beaches, Sea and Trails

Campese is the island’s largest beach, known for its reddish sand. A distinctive rock tower borders it to the south, and a Medici tower to the north. The beach can be reached by bus and water taxi; check current services before travelling. Clear water and species-rich seabeds offer opportunities for snorkelling and diving. Underwater, you can find Posidonia seagrass meadows, red and yellow gorgonians, blue sponges and rare seahorses, among other species.

Those who prefer to explore the island on foot or by bike will find a dense network of old trails stretching for more than 60 kilometres in total. They are used for running, trekking and cycling, and offer views of the sea. This makes trails through the landscape another key focus, alongside coastal and marine experiences.

Villages and Cultural Heritage

Giglio Castello is a medieval village surrounded by walls. The Rocca Pisana stands at its highest point. From inside it, the 360-degree view takes in the sea and the Tyrrhenian coast. The Chiesa di San Pietro Apostolo houses, among other treasures, reliquaries of Popes Urban I and Urban VIII, sacred furnishings from the time of Pope Innocent XIII, and a 16th-century ivory crucifix attributed to Giambologna.

At Caletta del Saraceno, you can see the walls of the Cetaria, where moray eels were bred, and parts of the Roman villa of the Domitii Enobarbi, dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD. The Torre del Saraceno was built in 1596 at the behest of Ferdinand I of Tuscany to encourage fishing families to return to the island. The Museo della Mineralogia e della Geologia also explores the island’s history: its exhibition areas cover the island’s formation, its geological and mineralogical characteristics, and the mining of iron and granite.

As of 25 August 2026, the Museo Mineralogico was not open to visitors; work was still underway to establish the museum in its permanent location at the Rocca Pisana in Giglio Castello. Before visiting, check whether it has since opened.

Wine, Festivals and Island Traditions

Ansonaco is the native grape variety of Isola Del Giglio. According to the island’s traditional winemaking lore, its origins date back to Greek and Roman times. The grapes can be dried in the sun on granite rocks and made into sweet passito wine. A traditional island dessert is Panficato, made with figs, pine nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, grape jam, orange peel, cinnamon and chocolate.

The Festa dell’Uva dell’Isola del Giglio is usually held in September during the grape harvest. At the festival, visitors can sample wine and regional dishes in small, old cellars in the village. Recurring patron saint festivals include San Lorenzo in Giglio Castello on 10 August, San Rocco in Giglio Porto on 16 August and San Mamiliano in Campese on 15 September. The celebrations include processions, festivities and fireworks; check the dates and programme before your trip.

Getting to Giglio Porto

Daily ferries run between Porto Santo Stefano on the Argentario and Giglio Porto. The crossing takes a little over an hour; travel time may vary depending on the service and conditions. Check the current timetable before departure.

Discover more destinations: Giglio Porto, Cala Spalmatoio, Semproniano, Follonica, Massa Marittima, Montevitozzo, Civitella-Paganico, La Dispensa.

Back to the regional travel overview: Grosseto.