The Six Sisters
Written by BHR, on the basis of “le 6 sorelle” by Gianna Testa appeared in: In Viaggio, N° 60, Septembre 2002, Edited by Giorgo Mondadori, 99p.- 108p.

Giglio, Giannutri, Montecristo, Pianosa, Capraia and Gorgona create a unique place with a special atmosphere!
Each of them with its typical characteristics, surely irrenunciable for those who are seeking for wonderful sights on the Beaches of Tuscany.
A place with full of life, lively, popular but also solitaitaire, silent and calm: the Archipelago Islands of Tuscany. They are like Eolie Islands, the Sicilian “cuisines” because each of them provides a different and very characteristic geological formations. Enough to think of the vulcanic Capraia and of the granitic Giglio; even if two jewels are so near and are so different, they seem to belong to parts gegraphically far from each other.
Leaving from South towards North, avoiding the biggest island of Elba we take you to get to know this wonderfull, extraordinary archipelago which was, in the past, a shelter place and and a connection between the Sardinian coste and the Island.

Montecristo, the literal
Its name remind us of the famouse novell by Alexander Dumas. Since 1971 the island is a natural reservation and it's rare that they let private tourists enter. Cala Maestra is its unique landing place. Only the guard of the island and its family live there on this beautifull, isolated natural beauty. The highest mountaugne, Monte della Fortezza, reaches 645 meters. In this mediterranian meraviglia we can be rabbits and goats while looking at the beautiful greenish-blue sea.

Pianosa, the beach
A hard past. During the middle ages the island was a field of conquest and sought-after, after being abandonate for a long period in 1856 it has become a “home of punishment”, from the 70s a huge prison was situated there. Since that date are passing names referring to this dark period of the island. In 1997 the prison was closed and they opened for the tourists. Pianosa should remain a pure, natural jewel.

Giannutri, the spirituality
This is a small jewel, shorter then 5km and smaller then 500 meters. The most meridianal of the islands of Tuscany, it can be define as an Island of the Spirit where anyone can arrive to wonder about the nature and to enjopy the silent.
A place without civilization, with a hard but a green entry field. Here do not exist roads made of sphalt, cars, night bars and here you can move only on foot, by bicicle or by motor bike. There can be found some Roman Villa dated back to the 1st and 2nd century. The most lively point of the island is Cala Spalmatoio with some local habitants and shops. During the summer season, Giannutri can be reached daily by boat from the St. Stephen's port (porto Santo Stefano) and from Giglio Island

Giglio, the granatic beauty
The second biggest island and surely the most visited by tourists.Giglio is a place concentrated of beauty , the territory is rich in mountaigs,hills (the highest point is 498 meters) and in greens such as olive trees, pine trees and vineyards can be found there and the nature is caloured by broom, heather and myrtle. In the center of the island there is the calm Giglio castle sorrounded by a castle wall from the meddle ages and defenetily gives an impreesion of middle ages . The main touristic place nearby is Campese (on the Nortern- West side) and beautifull beaches are waiting for you.The Southern part is strongly suggested to visit, called Capel Rosso, which can be reach only on foot along the sea side.

Capraia, the vulcanic
The closest island to the Coste of Corsica as well as of Elba and the third biggest among the Arxchipelago of Tuscany. This is a world to discover it by boat r on foot. The vulcanic origin of the island has formed and metamorphosed the rocks and jewels in a bizarr and surel extraordinary way. Everything is immersed in brilliant coulours of the sea and in the mediterranian green.
But it has also given a home of the punishment between 1816 1nd 1987. The island is opened for tourists afterwood. Some places are defenetily suggested to be visited such as the “fortezza di San giorgio” from the 15th century and the baroque St Anthony church, near the monastry. Some deliciouse natural tresoures can be found in the South of the island.

Gorgona, with its torns
Its particularity can be discussed wildly. The smallest island among the Archipelago of Tuscany. It is situated on the Northest part among the islands and there is a penitentary institution still working in the island, since 1869. This last note, of course not for tourists. The typical mediterranina vegetation and the beautifull sights are more for tourists as wll as the Cala Scirocco and Martina and the noumerouse torns (like the Clock Torn and the Ancient torn).

For more information please contact to:
National Park of Archipelago of Tuscany; Tel: +39/ 05 65919411 between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 from Monday to Friday.
Gorgona: Tel: +39/ 05 86884522, 05 895206, Guided tours on each Thusdays, price 25 Euros/person, max. 40 people
Montecristo, Pianosa, Capraia: Tel: +39/ 05 65914671, Website: www.aptelba.it
Capraia: Available without reservations. Capraia express: Thusdays and Thuersdaysfrom 9:30 a.m.to 18:00 p.m. Costs 35 Euros Mor info on +39/ 05 86905138