CapraiaTuscan Archipelago · Italy

All About Capraia

The Italian island of Capraia is one of the most extraordinary in the Tuscan Archipelago. Only opened up to visitors a generation ago, its clear waters have become a popular tourist destination. Many who step aboard the ferries to the island seek to explore its history as a penal colony – Italy’s very own Alcatraz. Others come to experience its volcanic origins, together with a natural history so significant it forms part of Arcipelago Toscano National Park. Whatever your reason for visiting, with Ferryscanner you can easily compare prices and book ferry tickets to Capraia.

Capraia is situated roughly midway between the northern tip of Corsica in France and the Italian mainland near Livorno and Pisa. The northwesternmost part of the Tuscan Archipelago, Capraia has a permanent population of just 400 souls. This island has a laid-back charm that’s hard to resist, regardless of whether you’re looking to enjoy it as a weekend getaway or as part of an island-hopping tour.
 

Routes and Ferries to Capraia

Without an airport on the island, the only way to reach Capraia is by sea. Well-equipped ferries with snack bars and seating inside and out depart from Livorno’s Porto Mediceo. Run by the Toremar ferry company, they tend to depart Livorno in the early morning, meaning many visitors with ferry tickets to Capraia choose to overnight in the city first.

Toremar’s ferries transport vehicles as well as foot passengers. However, with only a handful of roads on the northeast of the island around the port of Capraia, it can be more of a hindrance than a benefit taking a car to the island. The 62-kilometer journey from Livorno to Capraia generally takes two hours and 15 minutes. Occasional services that also dock at the island of Gorgona take slightly longer. Ferry tickets to Capraia can be purchased from the Toremar office opposite the quay in Livorno.

During the low season of October to May, there is normally one ferry sailing in either direction per day. In the high season summer months, this can increase to five or six sailings per day, meaning it’s always relatively easy to get ferry tickets to Capraia should you wish to visit. Although Capraia is just 32 kilometers from Elba and 19 kilometers from Corsica, there are no ferry companies operating routes between these islands.
 

Ports of Capraia

The ports of Capraia are located on the island’s east coast, facing back towards the Italian mainland. They lie in a natural bay that offers ferries and other vessels shelter. It’s on the streets around the ports that the island’s hotels and major attractions are located.
 

Best Beaches

The Mediterranean climate of Capraia means that the thought of heading to one of the beaches is never far from the minds of residents and tourists alike. The volcanic origins of the island limit long stretches of sand. However, the island’s coast does have some beautiful coves it would be a real shame for those with ferry tickets to Capraia to miss.

Mortola Beach

Mortola translates into English as Myrtle, which is one of the native trees that you can find in and around Mortola Beach. It lies within a bay north of the ports of Capraia, although the absence of a road there requires a hike through the attractive countryside – or better yet, arriving by boat. The beach itself is mainly comprised of pebbles, although the seabed is sandy, and the waters sparklingly clear.

Spaggia di Cala San Francesco

Located on the opposite side of the promontory from the port, Spaggia di Cala San Francesco (Saint Francis’ Beach) lies a short stroll from the majority of the island’s accommodation options and restaurants. The pebbles here make this beach one for swimmers rather than sunbathers.

Punta della Teglia

While not your traditional beach destination, Punta della Teglia is worth the effort needed to reach it. Marking the island’s northernmost point, the rocks here form a dramatic backdrop to a lively colony of seagulls. A footpath wanders over the rolling hillsides to the Torre delle Barbici, a defensive watchtower built in the late 1600s.

Cala della Ceppo

Another stretch of shore approached either on foot or by boat, Cala della Ceppo can be found roughly halfway down Capraia’s east coast. One of the main attractions of this region is the snorkeling possibilities. Delve beneath the lapping waves around the rocks offshore and you’ll find all manner of species taking advantage of the sandy seabed and warm, light blue waters.
 

Places to Visit

Beyond its beaches, there are some fine places to visit while visiting Capraia. The location between mainland Italy and Corsica has ensured it has been visited and claimed by various kingdoms and empires, who left no shortage of intriguing structures behind them.

Fortress of St George

The Fortress of St George dominates the port and town area of Capraia. Erupting from a steep-sided outcrop of rock, it dates back 500 years. It was constructed in an attempt to stop the piracy that plagued the island, alongside threats of capture by the navy of Suleiman the Magnificent. Although the fortress isn’t open to the public, it is nonetheless an unmissable attraction. Its exterior spaces shift between heights and offer some spectacular views.

Palmenti delle Tigghielle

This is an open-air museum and archeological site that blends in with the surrounding Mediterranean scrub so well it’s easy to miss. Keep an eye out though, so you can take it remains that include ancient tanks (palmenti) carved from solid rock for the fermentation and storage of grapes into wine.

Monte delle Penne

This 420m peak may not be the highest on the island, but Monte delle Penne is continually recognized as being one of the finest hikes on Capraia. Drifting through attractive hillsides largely untouched by the modern world, on summer days the views stretch all the way to Corsica. In addition, weather-sculpted rocks are the perfect place for a tranquil picnic before making the return portion of this three-hour walk.

Church of the Assunta

One of the oldest structures still found on the island, this church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in the Romanesque architectural style in the eleventh or twelfth centuries. It was adapted during the 1700s to become a ‘fortress church’, a historical version of a panic room. As a result, it has just narrow openings to let in the light high in the walls. The church of the island’s seafarers also has various offerings made by men and their families for a safe return over the years.
 

Transportation Around Capraia

The inhabited parts of Capraia, forming a rough arc around the ports, are small enough to explore on foot. The port is also close enough to the hotels and major attractions to make vehicles redundant unless you’re carrying luggage. In this case, you can take advantage of the bus service that connects the two. Neither motorbikes nor mopeds can be rented while on the island.