Giglio Island
The Island of Giglio is the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago.
Its Greek name, Aegilion, means ‘island of goats’ and probably comes from its steep, granite cliffs, well suited to mountain goats.
Giglio’s natural beauty makes it a paradise and its mild climate offers visitors a wonderful stay in any season. The entire coast line is made of jagged palisades, broken only by the Arenella, Porto and Cannelle coves along the east coast, and by the large beach of Campese to the northeast. The emerald green waters and varied sea beds teeming with fish offer the ever more numerous visitors and divers the chance to enjoy the spotless sea.
The island itself is rich in flora and fauna and the thick Mediterranean scrubland is only broken by terraces of olive groves and the vineyards, which produce the excellent white wine, Ansonica.
The history of Giglio is both ancient and entralling, with the island changing hands numerous times. The first settlers were probably Etruscan, but by the 3rd century B.C.the island had fallen under Roman control. In 805, both Giglio and Giannutre were given to the Abbey of the Tre Fontane by the Roman Emperor Charlemagne. Later, in 1269 the island was passed to the Aldobrandeschi family and then to the powerful Republic of Pisa, who constucted the stunning Giglio Castle.
It became property of the Medici family in the beginning of the 15th century and from then on fell victim to a string of terrible raids. The Medici undertook the task of repopulating the island and fortifying Giglio Castle to protect it’s citizens. The period of greater security that followed, stimulated an increase in the island’s population and economy.
Today the populance is mainly concentrated in the chief towns of Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and Campese. Giglio Porto is a delightful village, which lies along a cove enclosed between two piers and backed by a terraced hill brimming with vineyards. From here a narrow road leads up to Giglio Castle, here sits the town seat which has jusidiction over both the island of Giglio and Giannutri. Giglio Porto has maintained the look of a fortified village, still enclosed by high Medieval walls and towers. The town is a maze of tiny streets, covered by arches, dark underground passages, steep steps carved in rock, and old closely built houses. All with the magnificent castle looming above.
Campese, on the other hand, is situated on the western coast of the island. It is located in the center of a small bay, bordered by a wide, sandy beach and embellished by the presence of an imposing tower. (built in the time of Ferdinand I) Both Giglio and the tiny, wild island of Giannutri are part of the Parco Nationale dell’Archipelago Toscano. The island of Giglio is perhaps most striking for its sheer cliffs dropping off to a crystal-clear sea, the sharp scent of its aromatic herbs and the remains of an ancient patrician Roman villa, Domitius Aenobarbus .
