THE TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO
A short boat ride can take you from the coast of Tuscany to of the seven islands that form the Archipelago: Elba, Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri.
Though close, each island is different in nature and geological formation: Capraia is volcanic in origin while Elba and Giglio are formed by granite. The presence of man on the islands is recorded as far back as the Paleolithic era, and sizeable human colonies are present since the Neolithic era. The Etruscans will intensely mine and work the natural resources of the island of Elba giving rise to the metal industry.
The Greeks will occasionally land on the islands, naming Elba, Aethalia. A legend tells of the mythical Argonauts being shipwrecked on the beach of Portoferraio (Elba), the ancient Argon.
The Romans who renamed Elba Ilva, built up beautiful patrician villas throughout the Archipelago, the best ruins of which can be found at Giannutri, Pianosa and Elba.
Pianosa is also famous for being inhabited by the first Christians who escavated an important system of catacombs in the island, second only to the ones in Rome.
All the islands can be reached by ferry either from the port of Livorno or from the port of Piombino.