Trekking routes and itineraries:
1) – ELBA ISLAND – The Eastern ridge.
Itineray: Cavo – Porto Azzurro
Travel time: 8hours
Length: 17,6 km
maximum altitude: 516
Total altitude difference: mt 878
Interest: geological; historical; panoramic
Departing from Cavo (2 m.a.s.l.), the Elba town closest to the mainland, we begin to ascent in the direction of Mount Grosso along a path surrounded by cistus and rosemary plants. Once reached Monte Grosso (348 m.a.s.l.) and its well preserved “Semaforo”, a relevant military outpost used by Italian soldiers during the last world war, we get to view a superb panorama. To the East are Cavo village and the three islets located between Elba and the mainland (Topi, Palmaiola and Cerboli), beyond the Piombino canal is the Italian coast, while to the West is the whole northern side of Elba coast. After descending through Mount Grosso west side surrounded by a lush vegetation, we cross Valle delle Fiche then steeply climb the very panoramic Mount Strega (425 m.a.s.l.), from whose peak you can overlook its iron mines underneath. Continuing along our panoramic ridge trail in an alternation of short ups and downs, we reach Mount Capannello summit (406 m.a.s.l.), an ideal panoramic viewpoint over both bays of Bagnaia and Nisporto, as well as over the underlying town of Rio Elba. The path leads us to the Panche pine grove (325 m.a.s.l.), from where we start to climb in the direction of today’s highest peak : Cima del Monte (516 m.a.s.l.). Once reached its summit, the view is grandiose as it overlooks the whole of Eastern Elba, in particular Volterraio Castle and Portoferraio bay. Descending with the sea on both sides of the path, we get to Piana della Principessa (339 m.a.s.l.), an important archaeological site, then up to Monte Castello (389 m.a.s.l.) where we admire the underlying Monserrato Valley with its intriguing Spanish sanctuary, along the village of Porto Azzurro and its eighteenth-century San Giacomo fortress above. Further down, we leave the suggestive eastern ridge red rocks and through olive groves and vineyards, we enter Porto Azzurro village( 1m.a.s.l.) where the first leg of our excursion terminates.
2) ELBA ISLAND – Elba highest peak.
Itineray: Fetovaia –Marcian Marina
Travel time: 9 hours
Length: 19,5 km
maximum altitude: 1019
Total altitude difference: mt 1040
Interest: naturalistic; historical; archeological
Setting off from Fetovaia beach, we walk on an old coastal mule track up to the village of Pomonte, then, surrounded by vineyards terracing, we climb through its homonymous valley all the way to Terra (576m.a.s.l). Further up, we ascend towards Elba spectacular granite peaks, reaching Mount di Cote (950 m.a.s.l), La Galera (968 m.a.s.l)and finally Mount Capanne (1019m.a.s.l), the highest peak on Elba. Along these paths, we get to admire from above Elba, all the smaller Tuscan Archipelago islands , Corsica and a good stretch of the Tuscan coast. While descending from Mount Capanne north-eastern side, we stop to visit the picturesque medieval village of Poggio (330m.a.s.ll), to then carry on under the holm oaks and chestnut trees of a fresh shaded trail that leads us to Marciana Marina.
3) CAPRAIA
Itinerary. Harbor – Stagnone – M.te Castello – harbor
Travel time: 5 hours
Length: 11km
maximum altitude: 445
Total altitude difference: mt 520
Difficulty level: medium
Interest: naturalistic; historical; geological
Capraia island is the only Tuscan Archipelago volcano. After admiring from the sea its impressive cliffs and the striking bright red of Cala Rossa rocks, we enter Capraia small harbour overlooked by the imposing Forte San Giorgio Bastion. After a short walk from the marina to the village, we start our hike on the third largest island of the Archipelago, surrounded by the scents of garrigue scrubland. We walk towards the center of the island until to reach Stagnone (318 m.a.s.l), a pond of great importance for the local fauna, especially its migratory birds: also, one of the most evocative and naturalistically relevant location of the entire Archipelago.
Once left the pond and its fragrant essences, we continue our ascent to reach the summit of Capraia, Mount Castello (445 m.a.s.l.), while enjoying wonderful panoramic views even over Corsica: our next destination overlooking us to the west. Carrying on northwards, we start fo come across the now abandoned building from the former penal colony: the laundry room, dairy, sheepfold, but above all, an impressive terracing structure, evidence of the great work carried out by inmates for over a century. A superb panorama, scented bush, blood colour rocks result of geological eruptions, provide us with a superb location. Ruins of pastoral, military and prison settlements, with their load of suffering and poetry, make the whole place emotionally-charged. After having admired the spectacular Dattero cliff from above, we make our way back to the harbour along the main structures of the agricultural colony.
4 ) CORSICA.
Itinerary. Macinaggio – Barcaggio (dune trails)
Travel time: 4 hours
Length: 14 km
maximum altitude: 300
Total altitude difference: mt 520
Difficulty level: easy
Interest: naturalistic; historical;
We set off from Macinaggio beach to then continue along the coast amidst wild beaches embellished by centuries-old bent junipers and cliffs covered by mastic trees. Further down Tamarone beach, we come across the first Genoese Tower of our route, then carry on going among a pristine environment, where silence and scents of sea and woods are undisputed sovereigns. After passed the Cappella di Santa Maria, a chapel that had been built over a pre-existing religious building, we make our way back to the coast, until we reach the ruins of “Santa Maria”, a Genoese watchtower situated on a promontory opposite Finocchiarola Islands, islands known for the nesting of the Corsican gull (laurus audouinii). We keep going in a continuous variation of cliffs sceneries reflecting into the sea, up to Punta dell’ Agnello, also characterized by another watchtower. We are facing Isle Giraglia, on the extreme north of Corsica, the panorama in is superb, colours are bright and clear. We move westwards, to walk along surreal white dunes, through winding paths wedged between majestic junipers shaped by wind, until we reach Barcaggio small harbour. After visiting this tiny village we head back to Macinaggio, the safest port to spend the night on this stretch of coast, which in the event of strong wind can be unforgiving.
5) CORSICA.
Itinerary. Erbalunga – Silgaggia – ovili di prunelli – M.te Stello – Ebalunga
Travel time: 8 hours
Length: 14 km
maximum altitude: 1307
Total altitude difference: mt 1400
Difficulty level: medium
Interest: naturalistic historical;
Leaving Erbalunga marina, we ascend to the village of Silgaggia, where small family cemeteries, typical of North Corsica, are particularly well looked after: here we climb rapidly along an easy path, from which you can admire Silgaggia austere architecture. We walk up along Arega stream in increasingly wilder surroundings, then reach the Prunelli sheepfolds. We keep going towards a mandatory passage named Bocca di Santa Maria, which allows us to admire the pyramid of Monte Stello. Our trail initially climbs us around the summit then through its ridge, once you get to the top, you can admire a spectacular panorama overlooking the whole “finger” of Corsica, with a view extending from the Gulf of San Florence, to Giraglia and Bastia. Looking south, we can enjoy the imposing spurs of the central massif, while to the East we are able to see the Tuscan Archipelago in its entirety, featuring our past and future destinations. Once left the summit, we make our way towards Erbalunga, where we are to sail towards Elba, specifically to the splendid Cala della Cotaccia, where we are going to spend the night.
6) PIANOSA.
Travel time: 8 hours
Length: 19,5km
Interest: naturalistic historical; geological
In the morning, we sail away along the high cliffs of “Campo lo feno”, then steer our prow in the direction of Pianosa, the flat silhouette island; after 20 or so minutes through a stretch of sea particularly popular with dolphins, we are ready to disembark on the fourth Island of our sea trekking: Pianosa. We come ashore its surreal little harbour, amazed by an unreal silence and the Arab architecture surrounding it: after visiting the now uninhabited village we start to walk inland while observing the structures and abandoned farms of the local former agricultural colony, as well as the many red partridges and pheasants present in the area, introduced on the island over two centuries ago when Pianosa was a private hunting reserve belonging to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. While admiring the beautiful dry stone walls typical of the island, we 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 Porto Romano, 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 of species), constantly surrounded by intense Mediterranean scrub scents and with the impression of being able to walk to both Elba and Corsica due to a complete lack of high elevation. After visiting the ruins of Villa Romana di Agrippa, we conclude our excursion on Cala Giovanna beach, the only Pianosa shore where bathing is allowed. Later in the evening we sail at sustained speed back to Elba, to spend the night in Fetovaia bay.
7) GIGLIO.
Itineray: Giglio Porto – Giglio Castello – Poggio della Pagana – Colle dei Castellucci – Punta del Cappel Rosso – Caldana – Giglio Porto
Travel time: 6 hours
Length: 15 km
Total altitude difference: mt 600
Difficulty Level: Medium
Interest: naturalistic; historical; archeological
We set sail at dawn for our tour longest journey which will take us to Giglio, the second largest island of the Archipelago. On the day, a favourable wind might allow us to plan an ideal route to observe from a fair distance the Island of Montecristo, an imposing and wild 645 meters high granite mountain in the shape of a volcanic cone, where disembarking or circumnavigation is forbidden due to its integral nature reserve status. The sun is already high when we enter Giglio small harbour, here we get off the boat and start our hike from the village of Giglio Porto. We climb upon a nice old mule track that leads to Castello(400 m.a.s.l.), where, after a short stretch on paved road, we take a very scenic path leading us to Poggio della Pagana (496 m.a.s.l.). Once left Colle di Castellucci to our right (470 m.a.s.l.) we carry on walking southwards where we come across several shelters for shepherds. Vegetation on the south side of the island is low and arid due to its greater exposure to the sun. We continue surrounded by this low garrigue, up to Cappel Rosso Lighthouse (69 m.a.s.l.). Here you might want to get down to the far end point bearing the same name, then onto the cliff in order to admire beautiful Cala Spalmatoio. Once back to the lighthouse, we start to descend towards the east coast, surrounded initially by the typical scents of Mediterranean scrub then by vineyards, even here, the majority of them now abandoned. The final stretch of our hike winds along the coast in a continuous succession of stunning marine views, with the small granite beach of Caldane standing out due to its brightness and transparency. Surrounded by colours and scents of both garrigue and vineyards, we get back to the port after a 15 Km long excursion.
