One of three villages on Isola del Giglio, Giglio Porto is also the island’s main ferry port. With its centuries-old towers and photogenic churches, it provides a charming base for exploring the rugged coastlines and blissful beaches of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park.
Stroll through the peaceful streets of Giglio Porto to admire the Chiesa dei Santi Lorenzo e Mamiliano, a modern church designed by the Italian civil engineer Ernesto Ganelli. It’s a short stroll from the Torre del Saraceno, which was built during the Middle Ages and is named after the Saracen pirates who significantly damaged it.
South of Giglio Porto is the Cala dello Smeraldo, a yacht-dotted bay where you can swim in the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Beach umbrellas and sun loungers can be rented at the nearby Spiaggia delle Cannelle, which has shallow waters ideal for families.
Getting there
Regular ferries connect from Giglio Porto to Porto Santo Stefano, which is around two hours’ drive from Rome and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. Buses travel from Giglio Porto to destinations around Isola del Giglio while the village is small enough to explore on foot.