What to see during an excursion to Giannutri: unmissable places

It is a small island located about 15 kilometers from Giglio island, just in front of the Argentario promontory. A pristine and in some ways wild place that still preserves evidence of its ancient history. And during an excursion to Giannutri island, these are the things to see.

The most beautiful places and activities to do

• Roman villa. Near Cala Maestra there are the remains of an ancient Roman villa dating back to the 2nd century AD. It was built by the Domizi Enobarbi, an ancient senatorial family of important merchants, and is currently under restoration. Also nearby there are the remains of a landing also dating back to Roman times.
• Giannutri’s lighthouse. Perhaps less famous than the “lighthouse of lovers” but rises in an equally evocative place. Giannutri’s lighthouse is located at the southern end of the island, near Punta Rossa (or Punta di Capel Rosso). It overlooks a steep cliff overlooking the sea.

These are the two symbolic places of Giannutri island. An island that is crossed by number of trails, which will allow you to admire the beautiful views overlooking a fabulous sea.

And if you are a fan of diving, to see on Giannutri there would be two wrecks: the Anna Bianca (40-50 meters deep) and the Nasim (60 meters deep). Also in Punta Scaletta there are the remains of a Roman hull, while in the waters of Cala Spalmatoio there are the wrecks of Etruscan and Roman ships.

Beaches

The coast of Giannutri island is almost completely rocky and jagged. With only two exceptions:

• Cala Spalmatoio. The name derives from the fact that this cove was used for the storage and repair of ships, an operation that required pitch coating. Today in Cala Spalmatoio, on the east coast, there is the highest concentration of houses and the only square of the island.
• Cala Maestra. It is located on the west coast, exactly in a position opposite to Cala Spalmatoio. Cala Maestra, easily reached by a wide staircase, is a beach of small pebbles. The water is so transparent that the backdrop is perfectly visible.

These are the only two, true beaches of Giannutri. An island whose coast also offers many other small but certainly suggestive coves. Small coves just like Cala Schiavone (not far from Cala Spalmatoio), Cala Volo di Notte (with the spectacular cliff surrounded by trees) and La Scaletta (the less accessible but not less beautiful).

How to get

You have two possibilities:

• The first is to book a seat on one of the ferries to the port of Giannutri that depart from Porto Santo Stefano;
• The second is to participate in one of the many boat trips departing from Giglio Porto (where the port of Giglio island is located).

What to see on Giglio island

Giannutri is just one of the things to see on Giglio island. In addition to this (splendid) islet, some of the other places not to be missed are, for example, the towers, the tip of Capel Rosso and the beach of the Cannelle. To complete a holiday dedicated to the sea, history and nature.

Image source: Di Federico Del Bene (delbene) – Opera propria, Pubblico dominio, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2357983