Weekend on Elba and Pianosa Islands, program outline:
Friday:
Arrival on Elba, half-day excursion, dinner, overnight stay.
Excursion: Western Elba. The spectacular panoramic paths on Elba Western side.
Itinerary: : Marina di Campo – Solane – S.Rita – Poggio- S.Cerbone – Monte Perone – Sant’ Ilario – Marina di Campo
Enviromental: Garigue, Mediterranean scrub , wood
Length: 40 km
Total altitude difference: mt 930
Difficulty level: easy medium
Travel time: 4 hours
Leaving from Marina di Campo, we follow up the dirt road of ‘Le Solane’ towards Mount Castello (226 m.a.s.l.), then by Colle Reciso, will cycle about 6 kilometers on a pretty much flat road surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, then go up via an old mules track to the village of Poggio (330 m.a.s.l.)
After a short paved stretch that leads us up to the 410 mt. of Marciana village, we take a forest trail among the Valley of Pedalta, and after pedaling under lush chestnut groves we will reach San Cerbone Hermitage at 531 m.a.s.l..
From here, a steep descent will lead us back to the village of Poggio, a true thrill for speed enthusiasts! Hence we cycle up on tarmac to Mount Perone, from which a trail at times pretty technical but overall magnificent will take us back to Marina di Campo town centre after a long 15 Km descent.
Saturday:
Breakfast, whole day excursion, dinner, overnight stay.
Excursion: Eastern Elba . Panoramic and technical trails through the ridges and mines of Central and Eastern Elba.
Itinerary: : Marina di Campo – Monte San Martino – Mulino a Vento – Monte Orello – Buraccio- Capoliveri – M. Calamita – Lido – Lacona- M.te Tambone – Marina di Campo.
Enviromental: Garigue, Mediterranean scrub , wood
Length: 84,8 km
Total altitude difference: mt 1.870
Difficulty level: easy medium
Travel time: 8 hours
Starting from Marina di Campo, after a 3 Km flat trail we start to climb Literno Valley along an old military road. By San Martino hill we leave the main road to take a technical single trek that takes us onto the crest of Elba central ridge. An extraordinary path traced within a fire line brings us up to a windmill while overlooking the sea on both sides.
Back onto an unsurfaced road after leaving behind us Colle Reciso, we climb up the summit of Mount Orello along panoramic paths alternated to stretches among a pine forest.
After coming across numerous bunkers dating back to the last World War, we start a spectacular descent towards Casa Marchetti, then go consequently up the Buraccio valley until Mount Castello where you get to enjoy one of Elba most beautiful views.
Hence along paths with a great scenic panorama, we descent in the direction of Porto Azzurro town until Piano di Mola then climb again up to the town of Capoliveri. From here we begin to cycle on the most spectacular trails of Punta Calamita, alternating scenic wide paths to amusing narrower ones surrounded by vegetation finally plunging into a wonderful descent that become famous among MTB lovers in September 1993 (when the Mtb World Cup landed on Elba): a 1500 meters panoramic descent overlooking the sea, with quite a few humps, enabling riders to reach high speeds and carry out spectacular leaps.
On the way back to Marina di Campo, we will cycle along scented paths then ride up the dirt track that from Laconella beach takes us to cross over Monte Fonza at 300 m.a.s.l., finally descending again towards Marina di Campo along a downhill track continually overlooking the sea.
Sunday:
Breakfast, full day excursion to Pianosa Island, lunch can be either packed or had at the local canteen, return journey to Elba then departure from Portoferraio.
Excursion: Discovering Pianosa
Length: 24 km
Interest: historical, geological an panoramic
Difficulty level: easy medium
Travel time: 3 hours
Leaving at 8am from Marina di Campo harbour, after a 35 minutes journey we disembark at Pianosa together with our bikes. Surrounded by an incredibly clear sea full of marine life, we start to pedal around 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 its sea salt eroded buildings.
After passing the aristocratic “Villa dell’ Agronomo”, we cross the prison entrance still on our bikes, to visit the forsaken structures and crops once belonging to the old 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 castle 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 the 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 of species) surrounded by intense Mediterranean scrub scents . Further on, we observe the watchtowers built during the high security prison times, then head inland where Pianosa, due to its flat and slightly raised above sea level territory that prevents from seeing the actual coastline, gives you 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 once 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 shore on Pianosa where bathing is allowed.