Capraia has a surface area of 19.3km² making it the third largest island of the archipelago. It is considered to be one of the more maritime islands being a good 54km from the continental coast while Corsica lies 31km to the West. Gorgona is 40km to the NNE and to the same distance south lies Elba.

Capraia has an elongated shape, similar to that of Giglio but slightly smaller. The island’s territory is mountainous and hilly with a crest of hills culminating at Monte Castello 445m above sea level, that coincides with the longest axis of the island. Capraia is the only volcanic island of the archipelago, formed approximately 9 million years ago when the cone erupted and fractured the western part, leaving today just a fragment of the older volcanic structure.

Almost simultaneously to the cataclysmic event, another small volcanic chain was formed, close to Punta della Zenobito, where the interesting red rocks that surround the peninsula show the after-effects of the eruption.

The vegetation of the island is represented by low-medium Mediterranean brush. There are some interesting examples of precious endemic species typical of the Sardinian-Corsican group. The terrestrial fauna is represented by species of small dimension, with the exception of the wild goat introduced recently. A very important spot for those interested in avifauna with numerous species of local and migratory species of marine birds.

The island of Capraia forms an independent town of the Province of Livorno with a population of approximately three hundred inhabitants. There are two small urban centers that are close to the largest inlet on the island: the port, with its simple and graceful marina reflected in the limpid Capraian waters, and the small village of fortress-houses, are connected to the main road a little over 800m away.

Protected Areas

• On land: Almost the entire territory (zone 2), with exception of the inhabited centre. The small islands La Peraiola, Le Formiche, Lo Scoglione, lo Scoglio del Gatto and lo Scoglio della Manza are also protected.

• At sea: One part is zone 1, which includes the area between Punta della Manza and Punta del Trattoio. The rest is zone 2.