Visiting the Tuscan islands with scheduled services
The Tuscan Archipelago is the set of islands located in the waters near the Tuscany Region, between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. They are (in decreasing order of magnitude) the island of Elba and the islands of Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, Gorgona (for a total of 292 square kilometers), the smaller islands of Palmaiola and Cerboli, as well as the so-called Ants of Grosseto. Then there are a whole series of islets, shoals and outcropping rocks.
The grouping is largely included within a protected natural area (the Tuscan Archipelago National Park). Almost all of the Park is part of the Province of Livorno, with the exception of Giglio and Giannutri which belong to the Province of Grosseto.
Almost all the major islands can be visited by traveling with scheduled ferries. Here, below, which they are and all the details to know to land in these territories where the beauty of nature is still bursting.
Elba
The island of Elba, on which there are three ports, can be reached from the port of Piombino. All information on timetables and prices for round-trip ferries to the island of Elba can be found at the hypertext link previously indicated.
The ferries that arrive in Portoferraio are that of the shipping companies Toremar, Moby and BluNavy, which cover thirteen and a half nautical miles in an hour, and the hydrofoils (which only carry passengers without vehicles) of the Toremar, which take forty minutes.
These same companies also operate for the port of Cavo, except BluNavy, and with the same naval units, albeit with fewer trips. The seven and a half nautical miles away are crossed in half an hour by ships and in a quarter of an hour by fast boats.
The ferry ships of the Toremar fleet stop at the port of Rio Marina (they sail for about nine miles in three quarters of an hour) and then continue their journey to Pianosa.
Giglio
You can reach the island of Giglio from Porto Santo Stefano (capital of the municipality of Monte Argentario). The carrier of the shipping company Toremar takes one hour to cover the eleven nautical miles away. During the summer it is not allowed to disembark with a vehicle. By clicking on the following link, you will be redirected to a page where there are more details on ferry rides to the island of Giglio.
Capraia
To get to the island of Capraia there are the means of the Toremar fleet, which depart from the port of Livorno. The duration of the navigation of the thirty-seven nautical miles is two hours and forty-five minutes. Also in this case, in the summer the limitation to the influx and circulation of vehicles is active, also because on the island there is only one driveway (800 meters long). At the following link, you can learn more about ferry rides to the island of Capraia.
Pianosa
Pianosa was the site of a prison and it is currently open to visitors, but visits are limited and with guided tours. To reach the island there is one run a week departing from Piombino and an intermediate stop in Rio Marina. The ferries to the island of Pianosa are the regular ones (Toremar) which take two hours and fifty minutes to navigate the thirty-one nautical miles.
Giannutri
The island of Giannutri is connected to Porto Santo Stefano. The twelve nautical miles of distance are completed (by motor ship) in fifty minutes. There are not many races during the winter, while they are daily during the summer season, with departure and return within the day.
Gorgona
Gorgona is home to an agricultural penal colony, and can be visited. You can arrive on the island by motorboat in an hour and thirty minutes (it is 20 nautical miles) departing from the port of Livorno. Reservation is mandatory. Upon disembarkation, an identity document must be shown, as well as the documents issued by the company at the time of booking. The visit can only take place accompanied by an environmental hiking guide.
