The Islands of Giglio and Gorgona

Dear Friends,

The summer has arrived and with it the desire to enjoy the beach, the sun and a dip in the sea. That is why today I am going to write about Giglio and Gorgona, two of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago of Tuscany.

The island Giglio is accessible by a ferry that leaves the port of Santo Stefano at almost every hour of every day of the week. During the summer there are even more frequent connections to satisfy the tourists� demand.

Giglio, unlike many of the other Mediterranean islands, retains its glory as a protected area. Marine life thrives here as the law keeps the waters from becoming contaminated.

One of the best protected zones, where one can also go for a swim, is the neighboring island of Gorgona.

Giglio has 4 beaches, Coldone beach, Cornelle beach, Campese beach and Arenelle beach, each more beautiful than the next. Should you be travelling with children I advise you to visit the Cornelle beach as it is the largest sand beach in the region while the others tend to be quite rocky.

 The old town on the island with its medieval walls and intriguing style is also well worth a visit if you find the time in between sunbathing and dips in the ocean.

A timetable of the ferry:
http://www.giglioinfo.it/isola_del_giglio/giglio_traghetti_orario.html
A collection of pictures of Giglio:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79527291@N07/

Also, here�s an interesting video on Youtube that provides a small overview of what is going on on the island.

As always I hope that our informational blogposts help you plan and guide you through your vacation in Tuscany.
Kind regards,
George

The Beaches of Tuscany

Dear Friends,

The holidays are fast approaching and many of the letters I receive often ask me about the beaches of Tuscany. This article is dedicated to help inform you about all the most important Tuscan beaches.

Before we get to it, I would just like to mention that if you only have a week or less to spend in Tuscany, I advise against spending time on the beaches. I�m not trying to say they are not beautiful, they are, but all of Tuscany offers so many unique and wonderful places, that it would be a waste of time spending time on a beach while there are so many sights waiting to be discovered. Alright, now that we have this covered, let�s talk about the beaches.

The beaches in Tuscany are considered the cleanest in all of Italiy and regularly win awards stating this fact. Every year most beaches also earn the �Blue Flag�, a label, awarded to eco-friendly beaches all around the world.

In northern Tuscany, an area where our Russian customers like to shop or moor their yachts, the beaches of Forte Dei Marmi, Camaiore and Viareggio can be found. This area is also famous for being an Italian VIP summer resort in the 80s and 90s, with very long beaches that feature the beautiful Appennine mountains in the background.

At the heart of Tuscany one can find the beaches of Castagneto Carducci, San Vincenzo and Livorno, an area that is considered especially beautiful because of the vegetation that reaches the sea. Further there are the beaches of Castiglion de la Pescaia and Follonica, which are revered amongst the habitants of Siena and feature rocky beachses as well as sandy beaches full of children.

Finally, in southern Tuscany one can find the most beautiful beaches on the islands of Elba, Giglio and Giannutri as well as the beach of Monte Argentario.

We hope that this little guide will help you plan your future summer trips to the beaches of Tuscany.

Kind regards,
George