- home
- things to do
- hiking trails
Hiking Isola del Giglio
Discovering the secrets of the island with some characteristic walks
While the Isola del Giglio is known for its sun, sea and sand, it also offers plenty opportunities for keen hikers. You will find a number of interesting walks to try as an alternative to lolling around on the seaside. Giglio's hills and mountains with their wild and untouched beauty are ideal destinations for hiking.
Allthough this aspect of the island's appeal is relatively underdeveloped, the unspoiled nature with it's thick shrubs of Mediterranean macchia, breathtaking views on the Tuscan Archipelago and impressively sculpted granite outcrops that do the landscape make for superb backdrops of some spectacular walks. Especially in springtime, when the island explodes in colours, Isola del Giglio becomes a picture of incredible beauty.
In ancient times some of the trails were mule tracks that until a few decades ago were the only roads that the Gigliesi both on foot and on the back of a mule used to commute on the island and reach their fields.
Most trails are rather bumpy (difficult for mountain biking) and good footwear is therefore essential. Also, do not forget plenty of water. In many parts of the island, especially on the western side, mobile phones have no reception. If you want to be picked up by a taxi at the southern tip, you should arrange this before you leave.
In recent years, thanks to the financial support of the EU, many trails have been cleared and re-signposted and you have now a huge choice of trails throughout the island.
For a detailed description with pictures of some trail, please see below.
Top Links
Hiking Map Isola del Giglio
» Download hiking map as PDF
The hiking map is available for free at the Pro Loco (Via Provinciale 9, Giglio Porto).
La Cote Ciombella
Just south of Giglio Castello, in the location of Le Porte, you can visit the megalithic site "Cote Ciombella" (beginning of trail 25). It is a complex with archaic rocks, where you can see domes of different sizes…
Hiking Trails Giglio Island
The hiking trails on the Isola del Giglio are numerous and can be combined with each other. Below you will find only a selection of some not too difficult and long hiking trails.
Trail n° 23
(Porto -) Cannelle - Caldane
From the harbour Giglio Porto to the two southern beaches Cannelle and Caldane…
- Journey Time: 20-30 Min.
- Difficulty: easy
- Highest Point: 50 Meter
Trail n° 1a
Giglio Porto - Arenella Beach
From the harbour this hiking trip brings you to the Arenella beach…
- Journey Time: 50 Min.
- Difficulty: moderate
- Highest Point: 102 Meter
Trail n° 1
Castello - Monticello - Porto
From Giglio Castello the antique Mulattiera (donkey-path) leads down to Giglio Porto …
- Journey Time: 50 Min. (downhill)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Highest Point: 373 Meter
Trail n° 4
Le Vaccarecce (Vecchio Faro) - Scopeto
A round-trip along the two shady pine forests of the island, also ideal for picnics…
- Journey Time: 1 h (roundtrip)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Altitude: downhill 128 m, uphill 128 m
Trail n. 15
Giglio Campese - Faraglione
Easy path without altitude differences along the coastline of the Bay of Campesee…
- Journey Time: 50 min (roundtrip)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highest Point: 38 meter
Trail n. 16
Giglio Campese - Cala dell'Allume
After a few minutes you you suddenly arrive on the top of the cliff of the Allume. …
- Journey Time: 40 min.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highest Point: 64 m.
Trail n. 28a
Giglio Castello - Punta del Capel Rosso
From Castello to the southern tip, the Punta del Capel Rosso, with it's lighthouse…
- Journey Time: 1h (roundtrip)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highest Point: 163 m.
Trail n. 25/27
Giglio Castello - Poggio del Sasso Ritto
Beautiful walk on Giglio's mountain crest to the Poggio del Sasso Ritto…
- Journey Time: 2h40 (roundtrip)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highest/Lowest Point: 408/360 m.
Trail n. 12
Giglio Castello - Giglio Campese
Trail n. 12 is one of the four antique recovered trails that link Castello with Campese…
- Journey Time: 40 min. (downhill)
- Difficulty: Easy (downhill)
- Altitude: 348 m.
Trail n° 17
Giglio Castello - Giglio Campese
In alternative to trail 12 this path is a shadu alternative to get from Giglio Castello…
- Journey Time: 1 h (downhill)
- Difficulty: Easy (downhill)
- Altitude: 358 m.
List of All Hinking Trails
| # | Hiking Trail Deription |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mulattiera Porto - Castello Walk up 1h - Walk down 40 min |
| 1a | Monticello - Arenella Walk up 45 min - Walk down 25 min |
| 1b | Castello Delle Pietraie - Porto S. Giorgio Walk up 1he 30 min - Walk down 1 ora |
| 2 | Strada Prov. Santo - Arenella Walk up 30 min - Walk down 30 min |
| 3 | Castello - Arenella via Pentovaldo Walk up 1h40 min - Walk down 1h40 min |
| 4 | Vaccarecce - Scopeto Walk up 30 min - Walk down 30 min |
| 5 | Scopeto - Cala Monello - Punta Fenaio Walk up 1he 30 min - Walk down 1he 30 min |
| 6 | Scopeto - Fenaio Faro punta Ovest Walk up 1he 15 min - Walk down 1 ora |
| 7 | Scopeto - Olivello strada prov. per Campese Walk up 30 min - Walk down 20 min |
| 8 | Strada Prov. sotto Villaggio Clary - Sparavieri Walk up 50 min - Walk down 40 min |
| 9 | Campese - Sparavieri Walk up 1h - Walk down 1 ora |
| 10 | Castello - Le Grotte - Campese Walk up 1h - Walk down 40 min |
| 11 | Castello - Il Gronco - Campese Walk up 1h - Walk down 40 min |
| 12 | Mulattieria Castello - Campese (della costa) Walk up 1 - Walk down 40 min |
| 13 | Passaggio Mulattiera Della Costa - Mulattiera del Dolce Walk up 30 min - Walk down 30 min |
| 14 | Cala Pertuso - Panoramica Mezzo Franco - Sterrata Allume Walk up 1h - Walk down 50 min |
| 15 | Campese - Cala Pozzarelli - Faraglione Walk up 40 min - Walk down 40 min |
| 16 | Campese - Cala Allume Walk up 1h - Walk down 1 ora |
| 17 | Castello - Dolce Aiarella - Campese Walk up 2 - Walk down 1h30 min |
| 18 | Asfaltata Capel Rosso - Finocchio - Campese Walk up 2h - Walk down 1h30 min |
| 19 | Castello - Poggio della Chiusa - Le Porte (in pineta - panoramica - Porto) Walk up 40 min - Walk down 40 min |
| 20 | Le Porte - Poggio della Pagana Walk up 20 min - Walk down 20 min |
| 21 | Le Porte - Le Cannelle Walk up 2h - Walk down 1h 30 min |
| 22 | Asfaltata Cannelle - Cala dello Smeraldo Walk up 10 min - Walk down 5 min |
| 23 | Cannelle - Capomarino - Caldana Walk up 30 min - Walk down 30 min |
| 24 | Le Porte - Buzzena - Cala degli Alberi Walk up 2h 30 min - Walk down 2h |
| 25 | Le Porte - Castellucci Walk up 30 min - Walk down 30 min |
| 26 | Le Porte - Castellucci - Asfaltata Capel Rosso Walk up 30 min - Walk down 20 min |
| 27 | Castellucci - Sasso Ritto Walk up 1h - Walk down 50 min |
| 28 | Castellucci - Capel Rosso Walk up 2h - Walk down 1h30 min |
| 29 | Strada Panoramica - Poggio Serrone - Pia Serone Walk up 50 min - Walk down 30 min |