Montecristo, with a surface area of 10.4km² and a coastal perimeter of 16km, is one of the southern-most islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and constitutes the southern-most portion of the Province of Livorno of which it appertains, being annexed to the town of Portoferraio. Montecristo is 63km west of the coast of Argentario and approximately 45km from the southern coast of Elba, 43km from Giglio (to the east) and 27km from Pianosa (NNW)

With a generally circular shape, serrated by several inlets close to the main valley, Montecristo is a granitic cone that rises 645m above sea level with its peak at Monte della Fortezza that meanders southwards towards Cima dei Lecci at 563m above sea level. The landscape is characterized by large granite outcrops that descend steeply toward the sea, with very little vegetation and a number of valleys formed by seasonal streams. From a geological point of view, the island is composed almost entirely of a granitic pluton that dates to 6 or 7 million years ago.

The vegetation is represented by low-lying Mediterranean brush composed predominantly of heather, rosemary and a few holm oaks concentrated on Cima dei Lecci. As far as fauna is concerned, the Montecristo goat is the prevailing species, imported perhaps by ancient mariners and still rather abundant. Amphibians include the rare Sardinian discoglosso toad. Reptiles include the more common Western Whip snake and the viper, which legend has it being imported by the ancient Carthaginians.

Home until the sixteenth century to a flourishing community of monks, the island today is almost uninhabited. Now purely a nature reserve in accordance with the ministerial decree of 4^th March 1971 and Biogenetic Nature Reserve certified by the European Council since 1988. Today’s population consists of the caretaker and his family and two agents of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, whose lodgings are located close to the Royal Villa in Cala Maestra, the only inlet of Montecristo.

Protected Areas

• On land: 100% of the territory (zone 1); Also included in the perimeter of the Park are the Scoglio d’Africa or Formica of Montecristo, which is 100% protected.

• At sea: 100% protected up to 1km from the coast (zone 1).

Access: Regulated on land and at sea. The island is uninhabited and controlled all year round by a caretaker and staff of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, the Territorial Office for Biodiversity.

 Connections: There are no ferry services though some boats can visit with special authorization.

Access on land: Extremely limited and controlled by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Territorial Office for Biodiversity.

Visiting: It is possible to request authorization for a guided tour between 1st April and 15th July and from 31st August and 31 October for a maximum of 1000 visitors per year in which 600 are students and 400 are adults.

 How to request a visit:
A request has to be made before 31^st January of each year to the Territorial Office of Biodiversity of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato in Follonica. Tel. 0566 40611 fax: 0566 44616

From the 1000 people allowed to visit, priority is given to school trips of middle and secondary schools up to 300 students and 100 residents of Portoferraio, followed by residents of Elba and then the Tuscan Archipelago. Before visiting, each person will be given a short informative training course that is included in the visit to Montecristo and which is organized by the Park Authority and the Comune of Portoferraio, once a year. Ways to register and dates of the course are publicized by The Park and the Comune of Portoferraio.

Authorization for visiting the island without a guide can also be requested for visits between 1^st April and 31st October.

How to request access

At least 30 days prior to the visit, a request is to be made of the Territorial Office for Biodiversity of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato in Follonica Tel. 0566 40611 fax: 0566 44616

It is permitted to disembark on the island in order to visit the surrounding area of Cala Maestra and the museum. Access will be granted to one boat per day with a maximum of 15 people with a certain rotation that doesn’t allow the person requesting, or the boat, to be authorized again for another 2 years. Visits are to be authorized only when accompanied by a guide from the staff of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato.

Access to the sea: Forbidden.

It is strictly forbidden to swim, to stop in the bay, to sail around the island, or to dive in the 1000m of sea surrounding the coast.

Docking is allowed, only with the authorization of the Territorial Office for Biodiversity of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato in Follonica, at Cala Maestra in the small port and in concordance with an authorized visit to the island.

Diving is forbidden, though may be authorized by the Park Authority only for scientific or cinema-photografical work.

The island is listed in the Zones of Special Protection (ZPS), classified in accordance to the directive 79/409/CEE

Scientific Research Regulations

Carta di Montecristo (Integration of access to the nature reserve of the island of Montecristo for nature excursions.)