Together with the islands of Capraia, Pianosa, Elba, Giglio, Giannutri and Montecristo, it forms the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago. Because of its situation as penal colony the visit to the island is restricted.
Probably the island was settled by the Etruscan, but no signs are left, instead there are signs of a Roman settlement in "Piano dei Morti".
In the past several monasteries have been built there. The Pisans occupied Gorgona in 1283 and built the still visible "Torre Vecchia" (Old Tower), located atop a cliff overlooking the sea coast Costa dei Cantoni.
In 1406 Gorgona was occupied by the Florentine. In 1701 was ceded to the friars "Certosini", but in 1777 the granduke of Tuscany, Pietro Leopoldo, redeemed it.
The island became a penal colony in 1869, and it's still today. This is why visits are subject to a permit from the Direzione Generale degli Istituti di Prevenzione e Pena del Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia (Prison authorities and Ministry of Justice).
Tours are organised by the Cooperativa Parco Naturale "Isola di Gorgona". Sites to visit include: Torre Vecchia, Torre Nuova, Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower), the church of San Gorgonio, the Grotta del Bue Marino, the bays of Cala Scirocco and dello Scalo.
To give a first look at Gorgona, you can took the ferry-boat that once a week starting from Livorno stops at Gorgona en route to Capraia. |
