The island is separated by a 16 km (10 mi) stretch of sea from the nearest point of the mainland, the promontory of Monte Argentario. Mainly mountainous, it consists almost entirely of granite, culminating in the Poggio della Pagana, which rises to 496 m (1,627 ft). Ninety percent of its surface is covered by Mediterranean vegetation, alternating with large pine forests and numerous vineyards which allow the production of the local "Ansonaco" wine. The coast is 27 km (17 mi) long, made up of rocks, smooth cliffs and several bays: Arenella, Cannelle, Caldane and Campese, the biggest one with its small village of the same name.
The municipality is composed of the islands of Giglio and Giannutri. Three principal settlements are located on the main island:
Giglio Porto (G. Harbour), located on the eastern coastal side and hosts the port. It is divided into the quarters of Chiesa, Moletto and Saraceno.
Giglio Castello (G. Castle), located upon a hill between the two other localities and characterized by the majestic walls of a fortress. It is divided into the quarters of Casamatta, Centro, Cisterna and Rocca.[4]
Giglio Campese, it is located on the north-western coastal side and is a modern sea resort.
History
The modern island was formed probably 4.5 to 5 million years ago, and has been inhabited since the Stone Age.[citation needed] Later, it was probably an Etruscan military stronghold.[citation needed] Under the Romans it was known as Aegilium Insula[5] or Igillia Insula.[6] It was an important base in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and was cited briefly by Julius Caesar in his De Bello Civili,[7] by Pliny,[8] by Pomponius Mela,[9] and by the fifth-century AD poet Rutilius Claudius Namatianus, who celebrated Igilium's successful repulse of the Getae and safe harbor for Romans, in a time when Igilium's slopes were still wooded.[10]
Throughout its history, the island was renowned for its mineral ore: many columns and buildings in Rome were built with the Gigliese granite.[citation needed]
"Arenella" beach with a view of Monte Argentario on the nearby Tuscan coastCannelle Beach
The island houses the remains of a Roman villa of Domitius Ahenobarbus (1st-2nd century AD), in the area of Giglio Porto (Giglio port). No traces of the once existing Temple of Diana can be seen now. The church of San Pietro Apostolo in Giglio Castello (Giglio castle) has an ivory crucifix attributed to the sculptor Giambologna.
The island is also the site of an Etruscanshipwreck dating back to the early Iron Age, c. 600 BC.[13] The cargo of the ship included copper and lead ingots, iron spits, amphorae and a Corinthian helmet. Even a wooden writing tablet with stylus was preserved. The finds are almost completely lost now.
Transportation
Isola del Giglio is connected to Tuscany by ferries run by the shipping companies Toremar and Maregiglio, departing daily from Porto Santo Stefano.
In 2012, the island received prolonged international media attention, following the 13 January 2012 running aground of the cruise liner Costa Concordia, just off the island's shore. Most of the more than 4,200 passengers and crew were rescued and taken to the island, as well as to the mainland. 32 people died and 64 were injured. The people of the island rushed to help, providing hot drinks and blankets, and many opened their homes to the victims. The arrival of 2,000 salvage workers invigorated life on the island, and many of the workers fraternised with the islanders. Some local women left the island with their new partners.[citation needed]
The ship removal work was started in 2013 and was completed towards the end of July 2014. Flotation devices were attached to right the ship and then raised it. It was subsequently towed to its final destination port of Genoa to be scrapped.[14][15]
^"Giglio Castello". Tourist Association Pro Loco Isola del Giglio and Giannutri "G. Bancalà". Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
