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| Montecristo and Pianosa |
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Discover the Itineraries: |
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The island of Montecristo
The island of Montecristo counts four inhabitants: two caretakers and two forest wardens.
It is the Tuscan Archipelago's harshest and wildest island, with a 16 km coastline.
Its landscape is characterised by large superimposed rocks scattered everywhere - they look unstable and about to fall at any moment. Called tafoni, they are moulded into bizarre forms by wind erosion.
Alexandre Dumas made it famous by setting one of his most famous novels there. |
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The island of Pianosa
The fifth island in the Tuscan Archipelago, Pianosa measures little more than 10 km² and is scarcely inhabited.
It owes its name (Planasia in ancient times) to the fact that it mostly comprises level ground. Excluding the 42 m high lighthouse, the highest point is only 29m asl, while the island's average height is 18m asl. The site of a prison that was built there in 1858 (Pianosa agricultural penal colony), it was open to visitors till 1998. Today it is garrisoned by few policemen appointed to watch over the buildings. Sandro Pertini, future President of the Republic, was imprisoned in Pianosa for political reasons in 1932. |
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Both its specific use as penal colony and, recent annexation to the Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, have kept the island practically uncontaminated. Its waters were preserved from indiscriminate fishing for 150 years and, to date they offer a safe refuge to numberless fish species. Sailing and fishing are, in fact, forbidden for one mile around the island.
Bathing is only allowed on one beach where the beautiful sea bed flourishes with life. |
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