Programs for schools
Themes and excursions (see our educational trips dedicated website)
Our proposals are divided into several themes:
- Marine ecosystem
- Dune ecosystem
- The Mediterranean scrub
- The world of minerals
- The world of granite
- The farming world
- The mountain ecosystem
PIANOSA
In order for each project to be a success, during its planning, a close collaboration between teachers and guides is essential, giving that our concept of environmental education is based on a direct observation of the environment, and that the didactic side of it is to take place throughout the excursions.
We are able to provide both full packages (excursion program + ferry + accommodation) or excursion programs only.
Pianosa Island
A whole day trip departing from Marina di Campo by motorboat ( journey about 50 minutes long) to discover the geological and biological wonders of this practically uninhabited small island and its great historical and archaeological heritages. Excursion: by foot, mountain bike or sea kayak
MARINE ECOSYSTEM
1)The tide
Where: Galenzana beach, a protected bay within an inlet on the west side of Marina di Campo beach, characterized by a wide rocky shoal at low tide
What: ecosystem of the tidal zone
Like: on foot or by kayak
2)Posidonia (Neptune-grass)
where: along Elba western coast (and in the central north side)
What: rocky seabed, sandy seabed and posidonia meadows, all mainstays of our coastal marine ecosystem
How: an excursion on board of Nautilus, an Aquavision owned catamaran equipped for underwater vision
3)A reenactment in tank of marine habitats
Where: Inside the Marina di Campo AquariumWhat: The most relevant Italian aquarium in terms of Mediterranean species variety.
How: by bus, a short distance from the town of Marina di Campo
DUNE ECOSYSTEM
Where: On the dunes of Lacona beach
What: A sandy shore morphology and its constant variations caused by atmospheric agents as well as by the hand of man, the characteristics of a dune habitat and which plant species are capable of colonizing it
How: on foot
THE MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB
1) Scrub plants
Where: on the south central side of Elba, along the trail leading from Lacona to Mount Tambone.
What: Dune vegetation of Lacona beach, plant varieties in the Mediterranean scrub and the garrigue scrubland around Mount Tambone .
How: on foot
2) Ancient crops
Where: along an old access route once used to connect San Piero to Seccheto, on an area that for centuries had been occupied by crops.
What: the process in which the Mediterranean scrub takes over a territory and the typical features of a colonizing vegetation with such an extremely developed adaptability.
How: on foot
THE WORLD OF MINERALS
1) The Mine
Where: At the old open-air mining sites of Rio Marina (Vigneria and Bacino).
What: minerals found on the eastern side of Elba; learning, with the help of our guides, to recognize varieties by their form, hardness and shininess plus other observation methods;
tools, machinery, techniques and technologies employed over centuries to extract from these sites the most important metal of all: iron.
How: by foot or train
THE WORLD OF GRANITE
1) The granite mountain
Where: along the paths of the theme-based trail “Le Vie del Granito”, near San Piero, on the south western side of Elba.
What: prehistoric settlements, quarries from Roman and Medieval times, the Romanesque parish of San Giovanni and the Moncione Mill , all majestic testimonies of this area‘s past agricultural vocation; a walk surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, under the watchful eye of the animals protagonists of this peculiar territory: mouflons, wild boars, pheasants and partridges.
How: on foot
2) The ancient Roman quarries
Where: along the paths of the theme-based trail “Le Vie del Granito”, near San Piero, on the south western side of Elba.
What: the ancient Roman quarries, their extraction areas and the many columns still intact today, some simply rough-hewn, others complete up to their capital; extraction and transport techniques (with the aid of illustrated panels)
How: on foot.
3) A modern mine
Where: along the paths of the theme-based trail “Le Vie del Granito”, near San Piero, on the south western side of Elba, inside Cava Beneforti, one of the granite mines still operative at present.
What: What: the ancient tradition of Elba stonecutters. Old processing techniques alongside more modern ones; all the handling phases, from extraction to finished products; the essential role of blacksmiths, true masters in the manufactory of iron utensils.
How: on foot.
THE FARMING WORLD
1)Pomonte valley:
Where: on the western side of Elba, within the valley of Pomonte
What: numberless terracings called “saltini”, an evidence of old vineyards now mostly abandoned, that for centuries were the only source of income in this area of Elba.
Along the ‘saltini’ (built with a drywall technique) which have inevitably shaped the valley’s morphology, are also old mule tracks and various “palmenti” (wine presses); a place where you can actually re-experience the life of local farmers.
How: on foot.
2) chestnut groves of Marciana
Where: in the north-western part of Elba, in Marciana
What: chestnut groves of Marciana which for centuries were an important economic resource, holm oak woods with still visible traces of charcoal kilns, waters springs surrounded by ferns. The many ingenious water regulation networks and an eco-compatible system of the local rural economy .
How : by foot or mountain bike.
3) The charcoal kiln
Where: in the north-western part of Elba, in Marciana
What: Assembling then functioning a charcoal kiln: the youngsters , with help from our guides and local retired charcoal burners, are to reconstruct and operate a charcoal kiln using traditional techniques (in order to fully complete this project, a minimum of seven outings is required).
How: on foot.
THE MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM
1) Mount Capanne
Where: on Mount Capanne massif
What: vegetation and animals on Elba mountains. A fantastic view overlooking not only the whole of Elba but on a good visibility day, also Corsica, the mainland and the other Tuscan Archipelago islands.
How: on foot.
2) Shepherds of Elba
Where: on Mount Capanne massif
What: trails winding around this large mount, walked by Elba’s shepherds until a few decades ago. Enclosures and stone corrals for goats, a not to be missed evidence of the life of shepherds, true protagonists of such magnificent places, where today majestic mouflons thrive undisturbed.
How : on foot.
THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM
1)The Medici fortresses in Portoferraio
Where: Portoferraio
What: The most impressive defensive system in the Mediterranean, a masterpiece of war and urban engineering, in which water supply problems had been resolved brilliantly a long time ago in 1548AD ; together with plants and animals that have adapted to a man-built environment.
How : on foot.
2)Ancient villages
Where: San Piero and Sant’ Ilario
What: two small fortified Elba villages and their typical architectural features, made of narrow and paved alleys, vaults and houses leaning against each other’ bastion churches and an ancient history full of tradition.
How: on foot.
3) Marine towns
Where: Marciana Marina and Marina di Campo
What: two villages both built on the seafront, their ancient origins and a later growth related to tourism, an important element for the economy but too often accountable for alterations of territorial identities, ways of life and local traditions of places where it spread.
How: on foot.