There is something magical about the islands that dot the Tuscan sea.

It might be the half moon shape of Giannutri, populated only by a few human beings and wild orchids, or the Gorgona, which looks like a face emerging from the waves, or Montecristo, with its Mediterranean flora and fauna, special home for migratory birds and seals.

Giannutri, Gorgona and Montecristo create, along with the Island of Elba, Capraia, il Giglio and Pianosa, the Tuscan archipelago, a national park known in the world for its crystalline waters, the enchanted corners and the white rocks, irregular and wild.

The island of Elba, the third largest in Italy, has always been a tourist destination for its rich and beautiful beaches, such as Fetovaia and Cavoli.

Elba can be visited by scooter, traveling through its villages and ports, among which are Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro and Marciana Marina, where you will find relax by day and excitement by night.

A few km away from Elba you will find Pianosa, which was a colony for detainees for years, and is now open to the public, with its intact nature, archeological remains, marine fossils in its sea beds and rich rosemary and helichrysum, which wrap all year long this marvelous and forgotten scenery.

The island of Giglio deserves a visit also, immersed in the clearest waters, from the jagged and romantic bays and grottos away from everything and from the masses of tourists. There are over 700 botanical species on the island, many of which are rare, that it is believed have so much scent in the spring to rapture all senses.

For more information: www.arcipelagodellatoscana.com

(Cover by Massimiliano Mattolini - Photo by: Isola del Giglio di Massimo Brogi)