programmes on the Island of Elba and in the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago

 School Programmes

Themes and Excursions

The themes which we will develop can be divided schematically into 7 areas:
Marine ecosystem
The Mediterranean maquis
The mineral world
The granite world
The farming world
Mountain ecosystem
Urban ecosystem

To get good results form a project there must be direct contact between the teachers and the guides, even before the actual project begins.  You must keep in mind that our concept of environmental educations is based on direct observation of the environment, so that the education part will happen during the excursions.

We can supply both a complete package (excursion programme + ferry + hotel) and an excursion programme only.

The marine ecosystem

1) The tide
Marina di Campo – Galenzana.
We will visit the beach and a large rock which is visible at low tide (Galenzana), where we can observe the teaming ecosystem of the tidal zone.
Excursion: on foot and in sea kayak.

2) The posidonia (sea grass)
An excursion in a boat with a glass bottom, to observe the prairies of Posidonia (sea grass) and the marine ecosystem.
Visit to the Mediterranean Aquarium at Marina di Campo, where we can see, near hand, many of the inhabitants of our seas.
Excursion: on foot, by boat and in a sea kayak.

3) The dunes
Excursion on the dunes of Lacona beach to study the conformation of the coast, and the variations on it caused by atmospheric agents and manmade modifications, and to get to know the typical flora and fauna of dune areas.  Excursion: on foot.

4) The Island of Pianosa
Full day excursion, departure from Marina di Campo by motorboat (about 35 minutes) to get to know the geological and biological marvels of this small almost uninhabited Island, it has a vast historical and archaeological heritage.
Excursion: on foot, on mountain bike, in sea kayak.

The Mediterranean maquis

1) The numerous plants of the maquis (typical Mediterranean vegetation)
Lacona – Monte Tambone. We leave from the beach. First we find dune vegetation, then going up scrubland and finally the luxurious Mediterranean maquis of Monte Tambone, with strawberry trees and tree heath (erica arborea). This route gives us the chance to get to know an enormous varieties of vegetable species and study their characteristics.
Excursion: on foot and on mountain bike.

2) The new Mediterranean maquis
San Piero – Seccheto.  Excursion along the old communication routes where we find the main plants of the Mediterranean maquis and see how these spontaneous plants have quickly re-conquered the land that was cultivated for centuries.
Excursion: on foot.

The mineral world

1) The Mine
Visit to the Mine site of Vigneria and Bacino at Rio Marina.  The students can look for and get to know minerals with the help of the guide and see the buildings and machinery once used by the miners.
Excursion: on foot.

2) The Etruscans
Visit to the experimental metallurgical park at Magazzini where we can see reconstructions of Etruscan furnaces used to smelt hematite (iron mineral), we will study the techniques of working the mineral.
Excursion: on foot.

The granite world

1) The granite mountain
San Piero: an excursion on the south west side of Elba.  We will find prehistoric settlements, ancient granite quarries from Roman and Medieval times, Romanesque churches and a water mill.  Hidden among low Mediterranean maquis such as rock roses and broom, we might see mouflons, wild bore, buzzards and partridges.
Excursion: on foot.

2) The ancient Roman Quarries
An excursion to get to the ancient quarries of the Roman era where we can see the quarrying area and many columns, some partially worked others complete, we will study the extraction techniques and transport methods.
Excursion: on foot.

3) The Modern Quarries
Visit to the granite quarries of San Piero, where thousands of years of stone masons work is  still alive.  We can see all the stages of working stone, from its extraction to the final product, collect samples and see the blacksmith preparing the work tools.
Excursion: on foot.

The farming world

1) Pomonte valley
We will visit Pomonte valley where nowadays the vineyards are for the most part abandoned, for centuries they were the only income in this part of Elba.
We will walk among the “saltini” (terraces built using a dry wall technique) which have modified the morphology of the valley.  Along the route we will find the abandoned storehouses, and will be able to reconstruct the peasant life of this valley.
Excursion: on foot.

2) The chestnut woods of Marciana
We will cross the chestnut woods of Marciana which for centuries were an important economic resource, the holm oak woods, with traces of charcoal burners’ fires and springs surrounded by ferns.  We will see ingenious water systems; we will study the eco-compatible economic system that was created by Elban farmers.
Excursion: on foot and on a mountain bike.

3) The charcoal burners’ fire
The building and working of a charcoal burners’ fire: the students with the help of the guide and an old charcoal burner will build and light a “Carbonaia” (a fire to make charcoal) following traditional techniques (to completely develop this project we have to make at least seven trips).
Excursion: on foot.

1) Monte Capanne
Excursion on Monte Capanne to get to know the plants and the animals of the Elban mountains and to admire the fantastic views overlooking all Elba and, when there is good visibility, Corsica, the Mainland and the other Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Excursion: on foot.

2) Elban goatherds
Excursion along the paths that knot around the Monte Capanne massive, still in use up to forty years ago by goatherds.  We will visit enclosures and stone “caprile” (goatherd’s shelters), witness to the immovable life of goatherds, the leading players of these magnificent sites, today mouflons are the undisturbed and majestic controllers of these places.
Excursion: on foot.

1) The Medici fortifications of Portoferraio
An imposing defensive system and a masterpiece of urban engineering, where from 1540 the problems of water were brilliantly resolved; we will look at the plants and animals that have adapted to a man made environment.  Excursion: on foot.

2) The ancient boroughs
We will visit the small fortified Elban towns, crossing their narrow lanes, and reconstruct the hundreds of years of their history.
Excursion: on foot.

3)  The Marinas
A visit the towns built on the coast to understand how tourism has modified our way of life.
Excursion: on foot.