| Isola del Giglio | |
|---|---|
| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Isola del Giglio | |
| Giglio Harbour | |
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Isola del Giglio
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Toscana |
| Province | Grosseto (GR) |
| Frazioni | Isola di Giannutri, Giglio Castello, Giglio Porto, Giglio Campese |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Attilio Brothel (since June 2004) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 23.80 km2 (9.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 405 m (1,329 ft) |
| Population (30 April 2009) | |
| • Total | 1,458 |
| • Density | 61.3/km2 (158.7/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Gigliesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 58010, 58012, 58013 |
| Dialing code | 0564 |
| Patron saint | San Mamiliano |
| Saint day | September 15 |
Isola del Giglio is an island and Italian comune situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Tuscany, part of the Province of Grosseto.
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The island is separated by a 16 km stretch of sea from the Argentario promontory: mainly mountainous, it consists almost entirely of granites culminating in the Poggio della Pagana (496 m). 90% of its surface is covered by Mediterranean vegetation alternated with large pine forests and numerous vineyards which allow the production of the famous "Ansonaco" wine. The coast is 27 km long, made up of rocks, smooth cliffs and several bays: Arenella, Cannelle, Caldane and Campese, the biggest one with its small, same-named village.
The modern island was probably formed 4,5-5 million years ago, and has been inhabited since the Iron Age. Later it was probably an Etruscan military stronghold. Under the Roman domination it was an important base in the Tyrrhenian Sea, cited, for example, by Julius Caesar in his De Bello Gallico and by the poet Rutilius Claudius Namatianus.
In 805 it was donated by Charlemagne to the abbey of the Tre Fontane in Rome, and was later a possession of the Aldobrandeschi, Pannocchieschi, Caetani, and Orsini families, and of the municipality of Perugia. In 1241 the Sicilian fleet of Emperor Frederick II destroyed a Genoese fleet. From 1264 Isola del Giglio was a Pisane dominion, from which it passed to the Medici family. It suffered several Saracen attacks, which ended only in 1799.
Alongside its history the island was always renowned for its mineral ore: many columns and buildings in Rome were built with the Gigliese granite.
The island houses the remains of a Roman villa of Domitius Ahenobarbus (1st-2nd century), in the area of Giglio Porto (Giglio port). No traces of the once existing Diana Temple 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 Etruscan shipwreck dating back to the early Iron age, c. 600 BC. 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.
Isola del Giglio is connected to Tuscany by ferries (Toremar and Maregiglio) departing from Porto Santo Stefano.