What are the villages to see on the Giglio Island?

On the Giglio Island, you can visit trois villages : Giglio Castello, Giglio Porto and Giglio Campese. For heritage, start with Castello, perched at about 400 meters above sea level : its narrow streets wind between the houses and the medieval ramparts, around the Rocca aldobrandesca. It is the most interesting village if you mainly want to stroll through a historic center.

Giglio Porto, where the ferries arrive, is livelier and oriented toward the sea. Walk along the port and through the streets lined with colorful houses; the atmosphere there is more maritime than medieval. To the west, Giglio Campese is mainly a seaside resort, known for its large beach, its natural lighthouse — the Faraglione — and the tower that closes the bay. The village is worth a stop, but its heritage interest is more limited than that of Castello.

The three centers are connected by a road and a bus line: from Porto, allow about 14 minutes to Castello and 27 minutes to Campese, depending on the schedule. Timetables vary depending on the period, so check them on the day itself, especially off-season. If you only have one day, visit Castello and then choose Porto or Campese depending on whether you prefer the port or the beach. You will also find some practical pointers on the island of Giglio.