Isola di Capraia – or, simply, Capraia – is a small island located off the coast of Tuscany that is a protected national park status and unspoiled natural gem that is abundant in wonderful views, perfect for adventure and rich in wildlife. If you have found a holiday rental on the Tuscan Coast, it is well worth planning a day trip to this lovely mass of land to explore, soak in the natural beauty and get far, far away from real life.
Located 34 miles off the west coast of Italy, Capraia measures 5 miles in length and 2.5 miles across, at its widest point. It is largely made up of wild and unspoiled hills and only traces of agriculture from long, long ago remains. Only 3% of the island is populated, the other 97% is a National Park and 77% is protected. About 400 people officially live on the island, though this drops to less than 100 around Christmastime. Daily ferries leave every 20 minutes from 6am to 10pm from Livorno to bring visitors the island and it takes about two-fours hours to get there as part of a boat tour.
There are just two settlements on the island, the port and the historic village, called Capraia Isola. A bus connects the two and transports visitors across the island for around a euro. Each town has only a few shops and restaurants but said eateries actually offer excellent food. La Garitta, in Capraia Isola, is a popular and elegant restaurant that serves seafood, pasta and excellent desserts and the port is home to Il Vecchio Scorfano, which boasts fresh seafood and lovely harbour views. Typical dishes and products of the island are characterised by simple and authentic flavours and include a variety of seafood dishes, myrtle liqueur, marmalade and Fecolino cake. Wine-lovers can head to La Piana vineyard, which has recently somewhat revived agriculture on the island and offers tasty organic wines including a white Vermentino, a pink rosato and a good sweet red passito.
As noted, however, Capraia is most famous as a natural beauty so be sure to read on to the next post to learn about the outdoor pursuits that one can enjoy on this lovely Tuscan island.
There are just two settlements on the island, the port and the historic village, called Capraia Isola. A bus connects the two and transports visitors across the island for around a euro. Each town has only a few shops and restaurants but said eateries actually offer excellent food. La Garitta, in Capraia Isola, is a popular and elegant restaurant that serves seafood, pasta and excellent desserts and the port is home to Il Vecchio Scorfano, which boasts fresh seafood and lovely harbour views. Typical dishes and products of the island are characterised by simple and authentic flavours and include a variety of seafood dishes, myrtle liqueur, marmalade and Fecolino cake. Wine-lovers can head to La Piana vineyard, which has recently somewhat revived agriculture on the island and offers tasty organic wines including a white Vermentino, a pink rosato and a good sweet red passito.
As noted, however, Capraia is most famous as a natural beauty so be sure to read on to the next post to learn about the outdoor pursuits that one can enjoy on this lovely Tuscan island.
Photo credit: Visit Tuscany / CC BY 2.0