Seven islands protected by a national park, a charming archipelago and everything to explore, a unique destination in Tuscany to discover the sea and the wild nature of its pearls: Elba, Capraia, Gorgona, Giglio, Giannutri, Montecristo and Pianosa.
The Tuscan Archipelago National Park is considered the largest marine park in the Mediterranean because it includes seven islands, numerous islets and reefs that emerge in a large stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the heart of the great Cetacean Sanctuary, Pelagos, an institute as an international marine protected area since 1999. The entire Tuscan Archipelago, which includes the Park perimeter, occupies a total area of about 300 Km2 and has a develops along the coast for about 250 km. The Park protects the natural and environmental heritage and guarantees the conservation of biodiversity in a territory that is 99.8% recognized as an important area for plant diversity and characterized by the presence of protected sea birds of significant importance, such as the Corsican seagull – the symbol of the Park – the Scopoli’s shearwater major and minor.
It preserves and enhances the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of the islands, promotes the spread of environmental awareness and the respect for nature, especially among the younger generations, and counteracts environmental crimes.
Many activities within the Archipelago, such as hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding – 436 km of trails and tracks inside the Park with itineraries for all tastes, including part of the Great Elba Trail. On the occasion of the Walking Festival, a regular event in spring and autumn, the Park organizes themed excursions with a free guide to all the islands. The cable car, which starts from Marciana and reaches the summit of Monte Capanne, offers an unforgettable view from the top of the Archipelago to the coast of Corsica. In the islands of the Archipelago there are beautiful and numerous diving sites. Elba and Giglio have no limitations at sea, in Capraia and Giannutri diving is allowed in some areas, Gorgona has limitations due to the prison while Montescristo is an integral reserve area. The Park is included in the international Pelagos sanctuary of cetaceans, a marine protected area of 8.75 million hectares between Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco. The area is characterized by high biodiversity, which includes about 8,500 species of marine animals, which can be spotted among other whales, sperm whales and dolphins.
