Tuscan Riviera

After a few days cruising the Italian Riviera from Portofino to Portovenere, passing by the Cinque Terre.
How about continuing your yacht charter in the Tuscan Riviera ?

TUSCANY
Tuscany is said to be the cradle of the Italian language.
Dante Alighieri, born in 1265 in the Republic of Florence, author of the Divine Comedy, is described as the father of Italian language because he chose to write his poems in vernacular Italian (Tuscan) rather than in Latin.
The Medici family whose influence lasted over 500 years are considered the Godfathers of the Renaissance.
Florence the capital of Tuscany, also dubbed the cradle of the Renaissance is home to priceless masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture from artists such as Giotto, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo,
Tuscany is known worldwide for its extraordinary countryside with rolling hills, cypress trees, silvery olive groves, vineyards, ancient stone farms, sumptuous gardens of rural villas and of palazzo estates, its cuisine and fine wines.

THE TUSCAN RIVIERA
But Tuscany also boasts one of Italy’s most spectacular and diverse coastlines, the Tuscan Riviera, a mix of nature, history and culture.
The Tuscan Arcipelago National Park covers some 300 km2 with a coast stretching for 250 miles between the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian sea.
It consits of seven islands and a few isolated islets : Gorgona, Capraia, Elba, Pianosa, Montecristo, Giglio, Giannutri.

A yacht charter is perfect for hopping from one island to the other. If you embark in Marina di Pisa, on your route to Elba, you will pass along Capraia, the only volcanic island in the archipelago.

ELBA: THE LARGEST ISLAND OF THE TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO
Elba, the largest island of the archipelago and the third largest in Italy after Sardinia and Sicily is famous for having been Napoleon’s  forced exile in 1814. The Emperor’s chief residence Villa dei Mulini and summer residence Villa San Martino are open to visitors. Other places of interest are the Archaeology Museum in the historic centre of Portoferraio, the picturesque medieval villages of Poggio and Marciana, the 17th century Fort overlooking Porto Azzurro.

The advantage of renting a yacht, is that you can cruise Elba’s coastline, anchor off in picturesque bays, swim in sandy coves in stunning turquoise waters ▪▪▪

At night, your yacht can berth in Portfoferraio North of the island and Porto Azzuro on the South East.
Since the islands of Pianosa and Monte Cristo famous for the Dumas’s novel « The Count of Monte Cristo » are not accessible, your next destination is Isola del Giglio Island.

ISOLA DEL GIGLIO: A PARADISE FOR NATURE LOVERS
Isola del Giglio is a paradise for nature lovers with an incredible wealth of vegetation and wildlife.
Most of its coastline is wild and unspoilt, with spectacular granite cliffs, hidden bays and coves, crystal clear emerald sea.
Giglio Island’s rich underwater world makes it a top destination with scuba diving and snorkeling.
The Island also boasts some of Tuscany’s best beaches like Arenella, Caldane or Cannelle.
After a day at sea, disembark by tender in the small, picturesque and only port of the island, Giglio Porto, with multicolored houses.

Under Roman rule, Giglio became an important commercial junction of maritime trade as testified by the recovery of numerous Roman shipwrecks and the vestiges of a Patrician Villa, Domizi Enobarbi.

Perched on the highest point of the island, mostly untouched by modern architecture, the medieval town of Giglio Castello is worth a detour.
It is also where most of Giglio Island’s wines are produced.
During the month of September, a Wine Festival is held at the Giglio Island but nothing prevents you to go wine tasting in Giglio Castello’ «cantine» (cellars) and try the Asoneco, a structured wine with an intense gold color produced on the island for 2000 years.

GIANNUTRI: THE ‘SEAGULL ISLAND’
A few miles off Giglio Island, lies Giannutri also called « isola dei gabbiani « (Seagull island), a small island with no cars and no roads with a rugged coastaline, crystal-clear waters with some shipwrecks.
If you are fan of Roman history, take a guided tour to Giannutri 2^nd century A.D. Villa Domizia.

MONTE ARGENTARIO PENINSULA
Close to Elba and Giglio islands is the unique Monte Argentario peninsula connected to the mainland by three narrow sand bars.
It has fascinated ancient Romans for its beauty and is a chic destination for today’s Rome elite.
Indeed, the Monte Argentario promontory and surroundings have plenty to offer : a spectacular coastline, a rich fauna in preserved lagoons, the picturesque village of Orbetto, the elegant fishing village of Porto Ercole, busy Porto Santo Stefano, 16th and 17th century Fortresses ( Rocca Spagnola, Forte Filippo and Forte Stella),  horse riding in the wild Maremma country side, luxury golf and spa resorts, Tuscan traditionnal or high cuisine restaurants.

Flavours and Tastes of the Tuscan Riviera
Even though Tuscan cuisine has its roots in historic poverty based on fresh and seasonal products, it is fabulously diverse.
To stick to Tuscan Riviera delights :
Elba: «cacciucco» fish and seafood soup – Stockfish with potatoes – «Schiacca Briaca » sweet flat bread topped with pine nuts, raisins, dried food with an Oriental flavour –  honey – figs and fig jam
Giglio island: «Tonnina » Tuna preserve served with tomato salad seasoned with origan  or cooked in a pan  with cubes of tomato, pepper and potatoes – « Panficato » with dried figs, black walnuts, raisins, almonds, yeast and wine, similar to Sienese Panforte.
Monte Argentario: Caldaro dell’Argentario, a poor man’s fish soup – Maremma spinach and ricotta ravioli with wildboar sauce – The Monte Argentario traditional cuisine based on sea and land products has been revisited by talented young chefs in the nearby luxury resorts.

The Tuscan Wines
Elba Aleatico red wine – Giglio Ansonaco – Ansonica Costa dell’ Argentario
Most famous Tuscan wines: Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti

To discover the Tuscan Riviera on a yacht charter, please contact Blue-Trend your Yachting Specialist ▪▪▪