Pianosa Island

Pianosa island is a natural paradise, with its own conformation, different from any other islans in the Tuscan Archipelago. Seen from above, Pianosa reminds of a steak shape and, unlike other islands in the Archipelago it is completely flat; from here its name Pianosa, "the flat". The island has a composition of shelled tuff rock and presents no reliefs; indeed its highest peak is Poggio della Quercia with its 29 meters above sea level. Characterized by a low limestone coasts which have been shaped by the wind and the sea, nowadays the island offers beautiful breathtaking spots with pristine coves.The remains of shell fossils accumulated almost everywhere are also amazing to see.

Prison until 1996, the island is today inhabited by very few people involved in the supervision and control of the island. Due to the prison's activity and isolation that lasted about 150 years, Pianosa has been able to preserve its rare natural, historical and archaeological heritage. Throughout the island there are counted 500 species of plants among which, orchids stand out in this rich flora. Even richer is birdlife, formed by a myriad of permanent and migratory birds that, with their multicolored plumage and charming songs, represent another fascinating side of the island. In fact, birds can be considered the only population of Pianosa, as of humans there are just about twenty. Here nests the corsican gull and the peregrine falcon, the hoopoe, the bee-eater and the buzzard, the shearwater and the shag. Though the most lucky bird watchers can spot even the Eleonora's falcon, the European roller and the booted eagle.

Among the terrestrial fauna there is the marten, the hare and the euleptes. Even the sea surrounding Pianosa Island, for the nature of its seabed and for the safeguard carried out by the penitentiary security system, is a unique and extraordinary untouched ecological and archaeological site. In particular, the Posidonia characterizes the seabeds of Pianosa in a unique way.

Among the submerged rocks there are also numerous Roman wrecks sunk with all their cargo, which are an important research topic for underwater archaeologists. The island is entirely included in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and its marine area is protected up to a mile offshore. The visit is possible only through daily guided tours with a limited number of participants, who can embark from Elba in the ports of Marina di Campo, Marciana Marina and Porto Azzurro (you can not stay overnight on the island with the exception of few guests at the small hotel that has been recently restored). 

Province: Livorno
Area code: 0565
Coastline: 26 km
Area: 10.25 km²
Municipality: Campo nell'Elba
Maximum Altitude: 29 meters Poggio della Quercia
Position: Latitude 42 ° 34 ' North - Longitude 10 ° 05' Est
Distance from Elba: 7 nautical miles from Punta Fetovaia
Distance from Montecristo: 17.5 nautical miles
Distance from Corsica: 21,5 nautical miles
Distance from the mainland: 31.8 nautical miles

The history of Pianosa

The history of Pianosa

Useful info and history about Pianosa island.

The morphology of Pianosa

The morphology of Pianosa

Some info about the unique morphology of Pianosa.

Tour to Pianosa

Tour to Pianosa

Former prison colony, today the island of Pianosa can be visited with guided excursions with departure from Elba.


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