The pretty island of Giglio is 16km off the coast of Argentario, and easily and relatively cheaply accessible for a day trip by ferry from Porto Santo Stefano. Inhabited since the stone age, it was an Etruscan military stronghold, then an important Roman base, before being passed between and fought over by many important ruling families and rulers in the middle ages. It also suffered a number of attacks by the Saracens, the last of which only ended in 1799.

Giglio is mountainous, and consists almost entirely of granite and mineral ore which the Romans used to build many of the columns and numerous buidings in Rome. It’s covered by rich Mediterranean vegetation, large pine forests, and vineyards making to local Ansonaco wine. The coast is rocky but with a number of beautiful bays, and the water is crystal clear. Well worth a day trip!