Gorgona guided tours on the island

Getting to Gorgona Island

Gorgona is the smallest of the islands in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (2.23 sq km) and is also the northernmost. It is 36 km from Livorno (on which it is administratively dependent) and has a coastline of just over 5 km. The mountainous terrain on the western side culminates at Punta Gorgona at 225 m, while the eastern side is crossed by three small valleys, the northernmost of which descends to the sea near the small beach and the village where the Cala dello Scalo landing stage is located.

Despite the lack of waterways, the island is self-sufficient thanks to the presence of deep and productive wells. Approximately 10 km of dirt roads connect various buildings and areas used for livestock farming and crops.

The island’s main center is a small village surrounding the harbor. Heading inland, you’ll find two ancient fortifications: the Pisan Torre Vecchia and the Medici Torre Nova. The fortified Church of San Gorgonio is also noteworthy, while Villa Margherita, built on Roman ruins, now houses the penitentiary. At the top of the island is a complex from the second half of the 19th century that originally housed the lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 1975. There is evidence of human presence on the island as early as the Neolithic period. In classical antiquity, it was already known as Urgo, Gorgon, and Orgòn. In 591 AD, Abbot Orosius founded a monastery there where the relics of Saint Gorgonius were venerated. The island was then inhabited intermittently in the 12th and 13th centuries and subjected to frequent barbarian incursions. Monks and small military garrisons resisted, guarding the island until the 17th century. After a period of abandonment, in 1869 the penal colony was established, which is still an active prison today.

To visit Gorgona Island you need to know that ….

The island is home to a penitentiary, so guided tours are authorized by the Penitentiary Administration in agreement with the Park Authority according to an agreed-upon schedule for a maximum number of 100 visitors per day.

Once the availability of bookable places has been verified, it is necessary to make the reservation 14 days before the chosen date in order to send the names to the Penitentiary Directorate.

Before departure, a form will be sent (via email, along with information about the excursion) well in advance. This form will be filled out with your personal information, which will be forwarded to the Penitentiary Police for the necessary checks. Persons with pending legal matters will not be admitted to the visit; the check and any possible denial may be communicated on the day of the excursion.

Legal process before the visit

Please remember that criminal records may not be reliable for checks carried out directly by police forces with access to an internal database (it may be the case that a name, due to previous convictions, may be present in this database, even if the judicial process has been resolved; the deletion of such previous convictions must be requested directly from the Police Commissioner of your place of residence).

It is mandatory to follow the guide’s instructions and it is not possible to move around individually. The use of cameras and cell phones is not permitted during the visit. Bathing is permitted at the discretion of the prison administration. ANIMALS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Personal checks before disembarking at Gorgona

To disembark at Gorgona, you must submit your name, surname (maiden name, including women), place and date of birth, and mobile phone number, which will be forwarded to the Penitentiary Administration for SDI checks. Therefore, upon disembarkation, you must present a valid document. The checks to which passengers’ personal data are subjected are carried out by the Penitentiary Police in order to identify those with pending charges and who will NOT be authorized to disembark. Criminal records may not be relevant for the purposes of “SDI” checks, which refer to the “SISTEMA D’INVAGINE” DATABASE, accessible exclusively to the Police Forces but not to the Courts and Legal Authorities, who CANNOT update it even in the event of a complete resolution of the judicial process. To be removed from this database, you must request it with registered letter from the Police Commissioner of your place of residence.

---

Visit to Gorgona Island

Gorgona Island can be reached from Livorno by Toremar ferry. For information on costs and the visit schedule, please call Info Park: Tel. +39 0565 908231.

Gorgona is part of the National Park and is home to a penitentiary, so visits are limited and made possible thanks to an agreement between the Park Authority and the Penitentiary Administration. Excursions can be booked directly online at: parcoarcipelago.info/gorgona

---

The Roman villa

The remains of a Roman villa, dating back to between the end of the 1st century BC and the beginning of the 1st century AD, were discovered on the island, brought to light by an excavation conducted by the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Tuscany. The remains consist of five adjacent rooms, which retain some portions of a mosaic floor and painted plaster walls.

Guided excursions

The hike begins from the Belvedere terrace and reaches the Torre Nuova (which dates back to the Medici period and is located in the upper part of town, protecting the port) using dirt roads built by the Penitentiary Administration. It reaches Punta Paratella, where you can stop for a break with a magnificent view of Cala Maestra. You then reach the island’s small historic cemetery and the Rocca Vecchia, the island’s oldest fortification, dating back to the Pisan era. This hiking trail is partially shaded. Length: 6 km – Elevation gain: 250 m – Duration: 3 hours – Difficulty: medium-easy. Download the free app on the Avenza Maps platform to access the official Gorgona trail map. Cost: €55 full price – €45 children aged 5 to 12 – free for children aged 0 to 4. The cost includes return boat transport, entrance ticket to the protected area, and a guide service.

---

Visiting Calendar

---