The best places to discover by sailing boat or catamaran in the Tuscan Archipelago
A sailing vacation in this angle of paradise will impress you with the beauty of its sea in which the colors of the Mediterranean are reflected.
Situated between the mainland and Corsica, the Island of Elba, Capraia, Giglio, Giannutri, Pianosa, Montecristo and the Island of Gorgona emerge from the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and are part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, the largest marine park in Europe!"
The distances are always limited to 25 miles, so it is often possible to navigate on sight between one island and another making the vacation safe and relaxing.
A cruise on a sailing boat in these islands means sailing with new friends among grottos and coves immersed in the silence, between turquoise waters and sheltered coasts. All this is accompanied by diving, swimming, relaxation and sightings of dolphins and other mammals such as minke whales and sperm whales in the Cetacean Sanctuary.
The island of Elba
The largest island in Tuscany is Elba, which stretches along 147 kilometers of coastline that can be circumnavigated easily by sailboat.
Your only thought will be to choose the most beautiful bay where to moor. For example, Porto Azzurro, Fetovaia, Viticcio, Cala Biodola, with the perfect transparency of their waters will invite you to bathe for a long time and to spend nights at anchor.
On land, however, there are wonderful excursions, from the summit of Monte Capanne to the mining quarries on the eastern side, not forgetting a visit to the villa di Napoleone. A sumptuous residence where Napoleon Bonaparte lived during his exile and from which you can enjoy a 360° view of the Gulf of Portoferraio.
Island of Capraia
Capraia, the closest to the coast of the Corsica, is characterized by being the only one of volcanic origin: a factor that contributes greatly to the charm of its wild identity and makes it the ideal destination for many trekking activities. Despite the assonance can be misleading, even its name alludes to the rocky nature: Capraia in fact comes from the Latin Capraria which means "rock".
Arriving from the sea you will immediately see Cala Rossa with the unmistakable amphitheater of rock in shades of purple, which dominates the emerald green of the bay and that will welcome you for a dip.
The island offers a number of safe approaches and you can decide whether to sleep in the buoy field or in the harbor. Among the culinary curiosities, a classic event in the month of November is the "Festival of the Squid": in an apotheosis of tastings, along the quay of the port, you can taste the squid cooked in all possible ways.
The island of Giannutri
With its crescent shape, the island of Giannutri is the southernmost island of the Tuscan Archipelago and can be reached in an hour's sailing from Porto Santo Stefano or Porto Ercole.
During the journey you will sail along the Monte Argentario passing by creeks and inlets where luxurious villas of famous people overlook. The island of Giannutri is home to the splendid remains of a Roman residence and the northern part is a protected reserve. Here the contact with nature is total and if you will dive get ready to meet lobsters, small groupers, dentex and dolphins.
The island of Giglio
To the north of Giannutri is the island of Giglio, also a true natural paradise. Surrounded by a turquoise sea and embellished by the villages of Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and Campese, it is famous for its splendid granite cliffs and its secret beaches and coves. Ideal places to discover by sailing boat and where you can experience the thrill of sailing while practicing its fundamentals.
Gorgona, Pianosa and Montecristo
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These three islands are visitable only after authorization. In some cases because they are operating penal colonies as on the island of Gorgona, in most because they are naturalistic oases that allow access to restricted groups of visitors. In particular Pianosa, a sheet of land lying on the sea, is today one of the best preserved examples of Mediterranean ecosystem, with its crystalline seabed, the cliffs and the possibility to do trekking going to the discovery of the Baths of Agrippa. Finally Montecristo is the wildest island and inaccessible, where you can approach only from Cala Maestra.
