Tuscan Archipelago
Encyclopedia
The Tuscan Archipelago is a chain of islands between the Ligurian Sea
and Tyrrhenian Sea
, west of Tuscany
, Italy
.
The archipelago contains the islands of Gorgona
, Capraia
, Elba
(the largest island of the group), Pianosa
, Montecristo
, Giglio
, and Giannutri
; all of which are protected as part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park
.
The islands' proximity to several major cities has made them a favourite tourist location. History and literature has ensured that most people are familiar with the islands of Elba and Montecristo.
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera and the island of Corsica. The sea is probably named after the ancient Ligures people.-Geography:...
and Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
, west of Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The archipelago contains the islands of Gorgona
Gorgona, Italy
Gorgona is the northernmost island in the Tuscan Archipelago, a group of islands off the west coast of Italy. Between Corsica and Livorno, this diminutive island has been valued most for its wildlife, especially marine birds, and its isolation. The latter quality resulted in the foundation of...
, Capraia
Capraia
Capraia, called Capraria in ancient times, is an island of Italy, part of the Tuscan Archipelago, off the northwest coast; it is also a comune belonging to the Province of Livorno. It is 62 km from the city of Livorno by sea, and 32 km northwest of the island of Elba; it is slightly...
, Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
(the largest island of the group), Pianosa
Pianosa
The small island of Pianosa , about in area, forms part of Italy's Tuscan Archipelago. Its name comes from the Italian pianura . Its highest point stands above sea level. Pianosa is part of the Elba island municipality. On clear days, Elbans see Pianosa as a dark blue line over the lighter blue sea...
, Montecristo
Montecristo
Montecristo is a small Italian islet, approximately 4.3 kilometers across at its widest point, located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago...
, Giglio
Giglio
Giglio could refer to:*Isola del Giglio*Giglio v. United States, a U.S. Supreme Court precedent...
, and Giannutri
Giannutri
Giannutri is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the most southerly island of the Tuscan Archipelago and a frazione of the comune of Isola del Giglio....
; all of which are protected as part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park
Arcipelago Toscano National Park
Arcipelago Toscano National Park is a large marine park in Italy: it safeguards 56,766 hectares of sea and 17,887 hectares of land. It includes the seven main islands of the Archipelago , some minor islands and cliffs.-References:* Yearbook of the Italian Parks 2005, edited by Comunicazione in...
.
The islands' proximity to several major cities has made them a favourite tourist location. History and literature has ensured that most people are familiar with the islands of Elba and Montecristo.
Island | km² | Population |
---|---|---|
Elba Elba Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia... |
224 | 30,000 |
Giglio Giglio Giglio could refer to:*Isola del Giglio*Giglio v. United States, a U.S. Supreme Court precedent... |
24 | 1,553 |
Capraia Capraia Capraia, called Capraria in ancient times, is an island of Italy, part of the Tuscan Archipelago, off the northwest coast; it is also a comune belonging to the Province of Livorno. It is 62 km from the city of Livorno by sea, and 32 km northwest of the island of Elba; it is slightly... |
19 | 366 |
Montecristo Montecristo Montecristo is a small Italian islet, approximately 4.3 kilometers across at its widest point, located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago... |
13 | 0 |
Pianosa Pianosa The small island of Pianosa , about in area, forms part of Italy's Tuscan Archipelago. Its name comes from the Italian pianura . Its highest point stands above sea level. Pianosa is part of the Elba island municipality. On clear days, Elbans see Pianosa as a dark blue line over the lighter blue sea... |
10 | 0 |
Gorgona Gorgona, Italy Gorgona is the northernmost island in the Tuscan Archipelago, a group of islands off the west coast of Italy. Between Corsica and Livorno, this diminutive island has been valued most for its wildlife, especially marine birds, and its isolation. The latter quality resulted in the foundation of... |
2 | 220 |
Giannutri Giannutri Giannutri is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the most southerly island of the Tuscan Archipelago and a frazione of the comune of Isola del Giglio.... |
3 | 102 |
Total: | 295 km² | 31,875 |