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The Protected Area
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Identity Card
- Land Area (ha): 16.996,00
- Marine area (ha): 56.766,00
- Regions: Toscana
- Provinces: Grosseto, Livorno
- Towns: Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Capraia Isola, Isola del Giglio, Livorno, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Rio Marina, Rio nell'Elba
- Establishing measures: DPR 22/07/1996 - DM Amb 19/12/1997
- PA Official list: EUAP0010
Park Authority: Ente Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano |
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Arcipelago Toscano
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It includes the terrestrial areas of the seven islands of Arcipelago
Toscano: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri,
Gorgona, and the marine area surrounding the smaller islands. These
islands have a very different geological formation: Capraia is a
volcanic island, while Giglio and Elba are mainly granitic islands. A
great geological variety which influences shape and landscape of each
island. The very ancient presence of man, witnessed by the finds and
the long mineral processing tradition, has deeply shaped the original
vegetation and the ilex woods only survive in some parts of Elba, which
is dominated by Mediterranean maquis.
Arcipelago Toscano has always
represented an important shelter and connection area between the
Sardinian-Corsican system and the peninsula. This history has led to
the presence in the Archipelago of extremely specialized animal and
vegetal species which formed during the periods of isolation and
species which only live in Corsica and Sardinia. There are colonies of
sea birds, like shearwaters and seagulls, among which the rare
Audouin's Gull, a Mediterranean endemic species which in Italy lives in
a few places. The presence of the Mediterranean monk seal has also been
sporadically recorded, and it also possible to sight cetaceans. |
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Fauna
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The islands are characterized by the presence of a number of endemic
species. The most interesting ones are the citril finch, the common
self heal, the Sardinian tree frog, the Tyrrhenian painted frog, and
the leaf-fingered gecko. The terrestrial mammals are those typical of
the Mediterranean environment, with the important presence of the
marten; also the rabbit is rather widespread. On the contrary, the wild
boar of the Maremma extinguished at the beginning of the 19th century.
The species typical of Central Europe has been introduced thirty years
ago, but it reproduced in an uncontrolled manner in the Elba, becoming
a serious problem for the safeguard of the floristic endemic species
and of the agricultural products. The Archipelago is a stop and nesting
point for a number of migratory birds. There are also colonies of
shearwaters and seagulls, among which the rare Audouin's gull which has
been chosen as the Park's symbol. |
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Flora
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The main aspects influencing the vegetation of Arcipelago Toscano are
the Mediterranean climate and the insularity. The dominating vegetation
consists of evergreen plants with coriaceous leaves protected by a
robust and hardly impermeable epidermis, or by plants with extremely
reduced leaves which sometimes become thorns, or those without leaves,
like the brooms.
Of the large holm oak forests, nowadays only some
copses remain; the orographic and altitude complexity of the Isola
d'Elba has favoured the presence of chestnut tree woods; on the
mountains there are the European yew and the hop hornbeam.
The most
frequent vegetation in the Park is today the Mediterranean maquis.
Among its species we remember: the strawberry tree, the buckthorn, the
mastic tree, Phoenician juniper, the myrtle, the heath, the rosemary, the lavender, the wonderful brooms, and the colored cyst.
Linaria Capraria and the sea lily are worth a mention. |
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The Land
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It includes the terrestrial areas of the seven islands of Arcipelago
Toscano: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri,
Gorgona, and the marine area surrounding the smaller islands.
The
400 million-year old complex geological history has influenced the
vegetable, animal, and human presence in each island.
Of particular interest are the volcanic island of Capraia, the granitic
Montecristo, and the great mineralogical museum of the Elba in the open
air.
(the following links all lead to Italian texts)
Further information |
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The Sea
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In Italy, after the establishment of some reserves, Arcipelago toscano
was the first great marine Park. It is the largest protected area of
the European seas. The Park is characterized by a great variety of
habitats populated by different living beings.
The great biological
diversity of the Archipelago is also due to the variety of the coasts
and of the bottom of the sea: from the beaches of the Elba to the rocky
cliffs of the western Capraia, several vegetable and animal species
live in each ravine of one of the most fascinating natural
environments, the sea.
(the following links all lead to Italian texts)
Further information |
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