Besides making pedaling on a mountain bike fun, we will introduce you to Pianosa’s most spectacular views.

Program

Length: 24 KM

Interest: historical, geological, panoramic

Travel time: 3 hours

Leaving in the morning from Marina di Campo harbour, after about 35 minutes we disembark at Pianosa together with our bikes. Surrounded by an incredibly clear sea full of marine life, we start to pedal on the Tuscan Archipelago brightest island. We visit its small and simple but very elegant port as well as the now abandoned village, made even more evocative and mysterious by the surrounding buildings eroded by sea salt.

After passing the aristocratic “Villa dell’ Agronomo”, we cross the prison entrance on our bikes, to visit the forsaken structures and crops once belonging to an agricultural colony, here we come across many red partridges, pheasants and hares, all species introduced on the island over two centuries ago when Pianosa was a private hunting reserve belonging to the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Cycling along effortless paths, we admire the beautiful dry stone walls typical of the island, then reach  “Castello del Marchese”, a refined building built on the island northern edge, that over its novel-esque history has been a setting for multiple purposes; below us the beautiful bay of Golfo del Marchese, whose crystalline waters are enhanced by friable white rocks delimiting the land end.

While heading south again along the west coast, we stop by Gulf of Botte to visit the ancient wash houses and Roman aqueduct.

Our excursion continues on the beautiful coast of Pianosa (where you can watch several sea birds, with “Scopoli’ s shearwater” being perhaps the most relevant species) surrounded by intense Mediterranean scrub scents .

Further on,  we observe the watchtowers built at the time of the local high security prison, to then head inland where Pianosa, with its flat and slightly raised above sea level territory preventing you from seeing the actual coastline, gives the impression of being able to reach both Elba and Corsica while still on your bike.

After cycling among magnificent cliffs corroded by sea (an hint about the island crumbly geological structure) and lush pine groves, passing before the infamous “Agrippa section” (part of the old top security prison) on our way back to the village, and visiting the remains of Villa Romana di Agrippa, we conclude our excursion on Cala Giovanna beach, the only Pianosa shore where bathing is allowed.

Calendar 2018

dates on request

Price

on request

Fee includes: transport to/from Pianosa by motorboat, a bicycle, environmental guide service, swim at Cala Giovanna, insurance, assistance.