Holiday apartment in Giglio Porto: island history, paths and sea

Holiday apartment in Giglio Porto: harbour, paths and island history

Giglio Porto connects arrival on the island with short routes to history, landscapes and maritime experiences. The town is the island’s only port and the landing place for ferries from Porto Santo Stefano. The crossing takes about one hour; ferry services to Giglio Porto operate daily year-round and with greater frequency in summer. Those considering a holiday apartment in Giglio Porto are therefore choosing accommodation that takes the harbour into account as an important point of reference for planning their island stay.

Historical traces around the Saraceno Tower

One of the notable landmarks in Giglio Porto is the Torre del Saraceno. It was built in 1596 at the behest of Ferdinand I of Tuscany. From there, a footpath leads to the small beach cove of Caletta del Saraceno. At Caletta, the walls of a cetaria for breeding moray eels can be seen at water level. Parts of the Roman villa of the Domitii Ahenobarbi have also been preserved and are visible there. The Villa Marittima dei Domizi Enobarbi in Giglio Porto was built in the second half of the 1st century BC. An excursion can thus combine the maritime landscape with the island’s far-reaching history.

Easy paths and coastal views

For a more relaxed active day, the ancient mule track from Giglio Porto to Giglio Castello, paved with granite stones, is a good option. It is an easy walking route, and along its course there is a view of Arenella Beach. The official route from Giglio Castello across Cannelle Beach to Giglio Porto connects the two towns and leads over Cannelle Beach.

Dives and boat tours at sea

Giglio Porto also offers several clearly distinct options on the water. Diving centres in the town offer guided dives and diving courses for all levels of experience. The barcaioli of Giglio Porto take visitors by boat to beaches and coves that cannot be reached by other means, and also offer tours around the island with swimming stops.

Festivals, harbour districts and practical orientation

The Festa di San Lorenzo is celebrated in Giglio Porto on 10 August; it includes a procession at sea in honour of the Madonna Stella Maris. The Palio Marinaro dell’Isola del Giglio is a rowing regatta between the districts of Chiesa, Moletto and Saraceno in Giglio Porto. For planning routes, the Info-Park point at Via Provinciale 9 provides official maps for the trail networks of Giglio and Giannutri. In the immediate vicinity of Giglio Porto, Cala dello Smeraldo can be reached in a ten-minute walk.

Discover more island destinations: Cala Spalmatoio

To the higher-level travel overview: Isola Del Giglio.