Giannutri, a marvelous island in the heart of the Italian sea

Giannutri, minor island of the Tuscan Archipelago, is located a few miles from the Promontory of Monte Argentario and the more famous Isola del Giglio; it is a small island (only 2.8 km long and a few hundred meters wide) very important for the naturalistic and archaeological aspects.

In a restricted area of??the island territory, in the Sixties, a small tourist village and a few villas scattered in the hinterland were built, with minimal impact on the surrounding environment; the birth of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in 1996 prevented the further cementing of the island while preserving the pre-existing ecosystem.

Giannutri offers tourists the opportunity to walk on different paths from which to enjoy views of incomparable beauty; the only one that can be freely traveled with pets is the one that joins Cala Maestra with Cala Spalmatoio, the two beaches of the island; the others are passable by booking an authorized Park Authority guide on the Giannutri web portal; homeowners, their guests and tenants are not subject to these constraints as long as they do not damage the plants and do not bother the animals in their natural habitat; some stretches of sea are forbidden to navigation and bathing so as not to disturb the balance of the marine ecosystem. Giannutri with its crystalline sea populated by a variety of colorful fish and meadows of posidonia oceanica offers diving and snorkeling enthusiasts unforgettable days. Recently in the locality of Punta Scaletta a splendid Roman villa has been found and secured on request with specialized personnel; it was discovered that the building, built on terraces overlooking the sea, belonged to the powerful Roman family of Domizi Enobarbi, the same to which Nero belonged under the name of Lucio Domizio Enobarbi before being adopted by Emperor Claudius; other relevant rooms are located in the back of the beach of Cala Maestra where we find the remains of the dock with the large winch used for the unloading and loading of goods, a cryptoporticus, warehouses, tanks for breeding fish and large tanks for the rainwater storage; the remodeling of the Cala Spalmatoio bay was due to the Roman era, where passing ships and fishing boats found a safe harbor. The island is dominated by three hills; on the one called Monte Mario the remains of a large octagonal Roman signal lighthouse are still visible today.

Giannutri is served by a line of ferries that leave from Porto S. Stefano, active all year round with an increase in travel during the summer; the navigation lasts about an hour and it is forbidden to bring your own motor vehicles without authorization. To stay on the island you can rent the houses made available by the owners or book the room in the only B&B of the place; basic necessities can be found at the bar and at the tourist village minimarket.