Situated directly opposite Livorno, this is the smallest and northernmost island of the entire Tuscan archipelago, reached by ferry in just an hour and a half. Access is subject to certain restrictions due to the presence of a penal institution. Gorgona has preserved its original character remarkably well (aided by work carried out by inmates), and continues to display its wild, unspoilt face to this day.
The only settlements that bear witness to the island’s history are the Torre Vecchia and Torre Nuova. The Torre Vecchia clings to the edge of a rocky outcrop, towering dramatically above the sea at Costa dei Cantoni, and was built by the Pisans around the 12th century. The Torre Nuova dates to the Medici period and was constructed at the behest of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1600: it housed a prison for a long time, then was abandoned and now stands in a deplorable state. The Etruscans, Romans and early Christian hermits almost certainly inhabited this land, but no trace of their presence remains.
The true treasure of Gorgona is its pristine natural environment, unspoilt by human encroachment. The Mediterranean scrubland is nothing short of lush, with tall trees such as pines and holm oaks also present.
The waters around Gorgona, where the habitat remains entirely unaltered, are crystal clear and teem with an incredibly rich and diverse array of flora and fauna. The local population survives through a handful of elderly fishermen who refused to leave their homeland and live in a tiny village perched above the small beach at Scalo.
Gorgona is home to a correctional facility, so visits must be authorised by the Prison Administration in agreement with the Park Authority according to an agreed schedule, and are limited to a maximum of 100 visitors per day.
To visit, you can contact the Parco Naturale Isola di Gorgona cooperative. The excursion, which lasts all day, is not available every day and requires booking up to a week before your chosen date so that visitor details can be forwarded to the Prison Authority. The departure port for Gorgona is Livorno.
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