Stay in the lighthouse watching over Giglio, the little-known Italian paradise

A historic lighthouse stands on a cliff at the southern tip of Giglio, one of the seven islands in Italy’s Tuscan Archipelago. The Capel Rosso lighthouse now offers visitors the chance to stay in the former lighthouse keeper’s home, surrounded by sea views.

Giglio covers only 24 square kilometers, but its landscape brings together clear waters, beaches, secluded coves, rugged cliffs, olive groves, and vineyards arranged on terraces. Beneath the surface, protected Posidonia meadows help sustain the marine ecosystem.

The lighthouse was built by the Marina Militare in 1883. For decades, it guided vessels through the waters south of the island. Its last keeper, Luigi Baffigi, kept the light operating for 37 years, until the lighthouse became fully automated in the 1980s. The complex sits about 90 meters above sea level and includes an octagonal white masonry tower and a two-story rectangular building with a distinctive white-and-red striped facade.

In 2016, the lighthouse was awarded in concession to three Florentine businesswomen, the Mura sisters. They restored it while preserving its original character, including stone floors, wooden beams, and granite. The former residence now contains four suites of about 45 square meters, each with a double bedroom and a second room with two beds.

The property also has a terrace with hammocks and a restaurant serving Giglio specialties and regional wines. A staircase of about 200 steps, cut directly into the rock, descends from the lighthouse to the clear sea, adding an especially striking feature to the stay.