Giglio Island hikes, trails and treks recommended

Giglio Island hikes: from mule tracks to trails for trekking

Do you want to find out the island of Giglio on foot? Know that the trails where you can practice excursions to the island of Giglio Have their own personal history. They are. paths that were once referred to as "mule tracks", i.e., usually unpaved (thus natural-bottomed) roads, useful for leading livestock to the fields, as well as the farmers themselves.

These roads are not particularly wide and certainly do not allow for the passage of large vehicles, which is also why they were usually traveled on foot and were the main method of getting from one point to another on Giglio Island. The problematic nature of mule tracks, when compared with the needs of today, is evident.

Since these were dirt roads and not very wide, they could not be considered as a useful method of circulating motorized vehicles.

That is why the focus was later placed on the construction of modern paved roads, especially the road connecting Giglio Porto with Lily Campese and which you can see in the following figure. Excellent opportunities to carry out excursions to Giglio Island.

The trails at Giglio Island, with the advent of these new roads, they have been gradually abandoned to their own devices, a pity when we consider their potential from a hiking point of view.

This is also why, over the past few years, they have been refurbished and cleaned up thanks to the contribution of the local Pro Loco and allocated European funds. The trails today are ideal for those who wish to practicing trekking at Giglio Island.

You can't go wrong because they are all equipped with new signage indicating exactly which route to follow, complete with educational panels.

The territory of Gigliese for the most part still remains unspoiled, and thanks to this trail you will have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful hike immersed in the Mediterranean bush, with the possibility of taking suggestive photos and admiring breathtaking views. You will reach with reasonable timing beaches and coves often little known, in which you can take a nice refreshing bath.

Routes of varying degrees of difficulty

Some routes are very easy to do, others have a slight component of difficulty due to the slope or descent of the terrain, but they are still a good alternative for anyone who enjoys hiking. The advice may seem trivial, but excursions to Giglio Island must still take into account certain aspects that perhaps not everyone considers:

Always bring good hiking shoes.

The terrain is clearly unpaved and one can always incur minor injuries;

Bring suitable equipment, in particular at least 1.5 liters of water. Remember that there are no refreshment places or bars at the trailhead, and if you hike in the summer you will definitely be thirsty after a short while;

Prefer the best times!

In autumn and spring there are no particular problems, but in summer trekking should be done especially with the early hours of the day and during the second part of the afternoon, otherwise you will suffer a lot of heat; Always remember your route and pay attention to the cell phone! In some areas, particularly in the westernmost part, one could Have difficulty receiving the signal well.

Below, with a simple right-click on the photo, you can download the Map of Giglio Island with attached hiking trails for your excursions.