CAPRAIA
The island of Capraia is part of the Tuscan Archipelago in the province of Livorno. Capraia is a volcanic island with an active volcano called Cala Rossa where eruptions still sometimes be observed. The island is the wildest of the archipelago as it is closer to Corsica than to Tuscany. The current name was given to the city by the Romans, in ancient times the Greeks called it Aigylion. The word Capraia probably derives from the presence of wild goats on the island. Traces of Etruscan populations have been found on the island. The island was also base from which the Romans tried to control piracy.
What to visit
Tourists visit the island of Capraia from spring to autumn and the season opens with a very famous event, the Festival of Walking. The island has two inhabited towns a port and a village close to the fort of San Giorgio. The coasts of Capraia have steep cliffs overlooking the sea, offering the opportunity to see the layers of lava deposited after various eruptions that occurred over time. The depths are really interesting too for snorkelers and divers. In this area of the Mediterranean are inhabited by cetaceans, which are aquatic mammals. There are numerous sites of historical and cultural interest on the island reachable by paths and mule tracks, including a former penal colony, the Church of Santo Stefano, the Fort San Giorgio, the Church and convent of St. Anthony.
Beaches
Caves, coves and beaches can be reached by boat and by foot, take narrow paths to find some really picturesque places, such as Cala di San Francesco, Il Bagno, which was once the castle's fortified port, Cala of Zurletto, and the Spiaggia del Frate.