The small, wild and mountainous Giglio Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the Tuscan Archipelago, is situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the province of Grosseto, and overlooks Monte Argentario. Its intended wind-abraded coasts, made up of rocks, smooth cliffs, suggestive bays and small beaches, are to be reached on foot and offer charming sceneries.
The main accommodation facilities in the island are concentrated in the small centres of Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and
Campese and are able to suit even the most demanding requirements. The beautiful 4-star hotels overlooking the sea in the Giglio Island are provided with every kind of comfort and offer high-quality services and assistance to let tourists experience pleasant and relaxing stays. The 3-star guesthouses in the Giglio Island boast warm hospitality and well-kept environments. There are also several cheap hotels to enjoy pleasant holidays based on sea and sun at reasonable prices.
From spring to the end of September the Giglio Island features wonderful sunny days and an unspoiled and wild landscape. Only partially settled, the territory is mainly mountainous and almost wholly constituted of granites; it is therefore only partially accessible by traditional means of transport. Its three villages are situated in the northern part of the island, and so are the main beaches and tourist attractions.
Campese is the most recent town of the island and snakes along the small bay where ferryboats berth. It is a thriving tourist resort thanks to its wide beach and the numerous clubs and discos it hosts. There are many diving centres and shops selling sports equipment to dive or perform underwater fishing enjoying the outstandig shoal the island boasts.
The original core of the island and main landing place, the Harbour was built in the Roman Age and is surrounded by the colourful houses of Giglio Porto. The sixteenth-century Tower of the Saracen rises to the left of the harbour, and so does the so-called Cove of the Saracen which cherishes the remains of a Roman Villa. Rich in workshops, small clubs and restaurants overlooking the harbour, it is the ideal place to make long evening strolls.
Giglio Castello is situated north, on the top of a 405-metre-high hill. Impressive Medieval walls surround the village with their high bulwarks. The Aldobrandesca fortress topping the hill belongs to the castle, whose entrance is represented by the fourteenth-century Gate to the Fortress, the highest point of the small village.
Thursday 08 January 2009
