Holidays in Capalbio: An excursion to the Giglio Island

Crystal clear sea, rich seabeds, coves and unforgettable villages: Giglio Island is one of the most exciting destinations for those who decide to spend their holidays in Capalbio.

What to see in the Giglio Island

Maremma never stops to surprise their customers. Art, history, but also the sea, funny moments and the discovery of the traditional Tuscan cuisine are the flagships in the one of the most suggestive areas. In particular, the surroundings of Capalbio offer the possibility to do a lot of excursions and Giglio Island is part of these destinations.
Just over than 8 kilometres long, this island is the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago. The first thing that will surprise you, as you approach its shores, will be the its nature, mostly mountainous that gives it a wild and unspoilt aspect. This area is mostly covered by the Mediterranean maquis, except for the pinewood located near the Vecchio Faro.
The sea of Giglio Island seems to be a painting made by an excellent painter. The transparent and crystal clear waters become a seabed rich of fishes, but also posidonias, gorgonians and corals that populate the magnificent vertical walls that plunge into the sea.
In addition to the scuba divings, that you can book in one of the related centres of Giglio Campese and Giglio Porto, we recommend to rent a dinghy to visit the various coves. The most attractive ones are definitely Cala Del Corvo (Crow’s Cove) or Cala dell’Allume (Cove of Alum) overlooking behind Corsica!
Giglio Porto, the only port of the island, is the starting point of your excursion. Here you can find various shops and little stores for your shopping, but also to satisfy some needs, before going to discover the Giglio Castle.
Accessible by bus, this village is located in the highest part of the island and it is considered as one of the most beautiful villages of Italy. Here you can admire the magnificent medieval Castle and the Church of San Pietro Apostolo, where there is the statue of San Mamiliano, the patron saint of the island.
The story of the patron is really curious, linked in a double thread with pirates but also with the island of Montecristo. If on one hand the Saint, invoked by the habitants of Giglio, made appear a multitude of soldiers who fled the invaders, on the other hand, it was the monks of the Monastery of Saint Mamiliano to hide the famous treasure in the island of Montecristo to protect it from the Corsairs.
The lighthouses represent another attraction of the island. Walking along a path of 6 kilometers from Giglio Castle, you can reach Il Faro di Capel Rosso where some scenes of the movie "The great beauty" were shot.

Do you have an idea for an unforgettable excursion? You can hire a scooter to the port in order to visit the island and its most suggestive places. One of these is undoubtedly Giglio Campese. Get ready for a breathtaking show because here the beach, the sea and the sky seem to blend into a kaleidoscope of colours. If in summer it is the most lively and fashionable centre, in winter it is almost uninhabited and animated only by the sounds of the nature.
If you are going to start your excursion discovering the beaches of Giglio, we recommend that you go to Spiaggia delle Cannelle (Cannelle Beach), since its crystal clear water and its white sand is easily accessible by foot. This beach is crowded from the early hours of the morning, so it is better if you reach the place as soon as you arrive. Do not be worried if you don’t have the equipments, because you can find them directly in the beach as you can enjoy spending some hours in complete relaxation and fun!
Instead, Campese Beach is the perfect choice for everyone, especially for families with children because it is among the most equipped. Here the sand is characterized by a special red colour that brings out even more the transparency of the water.
Aranella is a beach located about 20 minutes far away from the port. You can easily reach it by bus and it offers another different scenery due to its unexpected golden sand.
Finally, for the more adventurous, we recommend a stop at Caldane beach, housed in a bay that you can reach by foot from Cannelle or by a private boat. Here there is no sand but only rocks and sea of a Caribbean blue!
Our tour ends with the return to Giglio Porto. Take advantage of the stop to eat in one of the many local restaurants where you can enjoy specialities such as scabeccio fish, palamita alla gigliese or panficato, the typical dessert of the place based on dried fruit.
And, while you’re attending the ferry which leave you at Porto Santo Stefano, you can visit the Mineralogical museum, housed in the palace of the Pro Loco. Here are preserved crystals of galena, tetrahedra and black tourmaline, witnesses of the important geological wealth of the island.

How to reach Giglio Island

Getting to Giglio Island is very easy: all you have to do is taking one of the many ferries that depart from Porto Santo Stefano. The crossing, in favourable sea conditions, lasts about an hour.

Choose Hotel Residence Valle del Buttero

At the Hotel Residence Valle del Buttero, we know it well: the activities in Capalbio and surroundings are really numerous and it seems that time is never enough to visit all the attractions of the area.
For this reason we are the ideal starting point for your excursions to discover the Maremma and in particular the island of Giglio. Our property is just 30 kilometers from Porto Santo Stefano. After a tasty breakfast based on the typical products of Maremma, you can leave your car in one of the car parks and take the ferry that will take you to Giglio Porto.
And in the evening, waiting for your return, you will find the comfort of our rooms and more. An aperitif by the pool, a game of table tennis or a dinner in one of the restaurants in the area will be the end of a perfect day!