The Island of Giglio administratively belongs to the province of Grosseto. The council of Giglio consists of three located nearby settlements, Giglio Porto, Giglio Campese, and Giglio Castello. Besides, the neighboring island of Giannutri also belongs to it.
The island of Giglio is a real pearl in the necklace of Venus. Tourists will discover here the purest sea of Italy, underwater of stunning beauty, and an unusual coastline with a high hill to the west and even granite slab to the east. The highest point of the island is the mount of Poggio della Pagana which rises 496 meters above the sea level. There is a breathtaking view on the archipelago from this point.
First of all, the island of Giglio is famous for being a diving center. Pure as a crystal water allows to get acquainted with beautiful underwater scenery. There is a school of diving on the island. Those who take a week-long course get a certificate of first level after completing it. Besides, you can take some swimming and yachting classes on the island of Giglio. There are a number of tennis courts and football pitches on the island. You can freely go fishing in the coastal waters.
The island of Giglio has marvelous sandy beaches open for public.
About 90% of the land of Giglio Island still remain inhabited. There are old paths on unpopulated lands which are regularly cleaned for tourists comfort. Considering the size of the island, the round trip will take no more than four hours. Tracking in wild places is qualified as of low or medium difficulty level.
Nature of the island is very rich. There are more than seven hundred species of plants on Giglio, some of which you can find only there. Fauna is also interesting. It includes such rare species as peregrine and herring gull. There are no poisonous snakes on the island at all. You can get acquainted with diverse underwater flora and fauna while diving.
The island is located in the low seismicity zone.
The attractions of Giglio include remains of the Ancient Rome period, defensive towers, Torre del Saraceno, Torre del Campese, Torre del Lazzaretto, Castellare del Giglio, Forte della Scoperta, and churches. The main church is the church of St. Peter, Chiesa di San Pietro. It keeps the relics of San Mamiliano. It’s worth examining the marble sanctuary and the crucifixion of the Cathedral.
The annual festival in honor of the patron saint of the island, St. Lorenzo, is one of the most interesting events taking place on Giglio. Sea contests and festive pageants are held on the 10th of August. And in the evening the sky is colored with fireworks.
You can reach the island of Giglio by taking a ferry from the haven of the town of Porto Santo Stefano. Keep in mind that during summer the number of vehicles allowed on the island is limited. From the harbor of the island you can set off to the neighboring islands of Giannutri and Pianosa.
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