The island you can't get to
Montecristo belongs to the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano and is a strictly protected nature reserve. Only a handful of nature guardians live here to watch over the unique ecosystem and rare species of plants and animals. Access to the island is therefore almost impossible - the Italian authorities issue only 1,000 permits a year which are mainly for scientists, naturalists and school groups. So if you want to see Montecristo, you'll have to be very lucky... or wait patiently on a waiting list for years! Swimming is forbidden here.
An island without people - a paradise for nature
It is the isolation and strict protection that has allowed Montecristo to remain almost untouched. The island is covered in macchia - a dense, wild Mediterranean scrub. Here you will find rare plant species, the endemic Lucertola di Montecristo lizard, as well as protected bird species that nest here. The coastline is made up of steep cliffs and caves that have always attracted adventurers, pirates and monks seeking solitude.
History, treasures and legends
Montecristo has a long and fascinating history. It has been known as a holy place since ancient times. In the Middle Ages it was the site of the Benedictine monastery of San Mamiliano, whose ruins still stand on the slopes of the island. It is the monastery that is linked to the legend of the hidden treasure - the Tesoro di San Mamiliano - which is said to have been buried by monks fleeing from pirates. This myth inspired Dumas to write the story of Edmond Dantès, who finds a fabulous treasure on the island.
Not only romance, but also strict rules
If you do make it to Montecristo, be prepared for strict rules. You can't take a single stone off the island, and you can only go on marked trails and always in a group with a guide. All to protect as much as possible the precious nature and the atmosphere of this unique place.
Montecristo is an island that beckons with its mystery. It is its inaccessibility that gives it a special charm. And perhaps that is why it has become one of the greatest myths of the Mediterranean.
