Cala Spalmatoio

The island of Giannutri is the southernmost of the seven islands that make up the Tuscan archipelago and is located about 12 miles away from the island of Giglio, of which it is part as a municipality.

Giannutri is in the Tyrrhenian Sea about six miles opposite theArgentario promontory in the province of Grosseto. The island is the smallest of the inhabited ones and has an area of about 2.8 km². The shape resembles a crescent and the territory is limestone, formed by several promontories whose highest peak reaches 85 meters above sea level.

Giannutri’s coastline stretches for about 11 km, but access is prohibited in most areas. Giannutri is part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, is a Marine Park and is subject to numerous prohibitions.

Depending on the stretch of sea, it is prohibited to fish, anchor and dive within 1 km of the coast. Generally, diving and fishing are prohibited, except for some areas where residents are allowed, and for non-residents, permission must be obtained from the maritime authority.

Bathing is permitted only within certain stretches of sea bounded by red and white buoys. Boats may anchorage at night in Cala Spalmatoio and Cala Maestra.

Mooring is allowed only in the northern area of Cala Spalmatoio, only for the short period of loading and unloading of goods and people. In case of need, space must be left for the many ships that daily connect the island with Porto Santo Stefano and Giglio Island.

The interior of Giannutri is also very interesting from an archaeological point of view, although access is forbidden in many places during the summer season. Human traces dating back to the Bronze Age have been found, and during Roman times the island experienced its heyday.

At Cala Spalmatoio there are the remains of an ancient Roman ports and at Cala Maestra those of a beautiful villa dating from the second century AD.

In the winter period about 30 people live there, but in the summer the area becomes a destination for a large number of tourists, who live downtown or in luxurious villas surrounded by dense vegetation.

At the top of the island is a helicopter that ports daily supplies for residents, stores and restaurants that are in the small town.

Giannutri is a true paradise on earth and the sea has exceptional transparency. Of course, in summer Cala Spalmatoio and the whole island are very busy, and the attention of the authorities to the observance of prohibitions increases.