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A Hike across Elba |
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A Hike across Elba | 
| From the granite mountain to the iron mines.
A two day guided hiking excursion, accompanied by specialised guides who will introduce you to some beautiful and historic places, walk along crests with spectacular views of Elba on either side, in the safety of knowing that our assistance minibus is always nearby for any emergency. | | | Dates for 2011:
| dates on request for groups of a minimum of 4 people. | | Price: | € 290 per person (€ 350 at Easter and national holidays) | The package includes: 2 days guided hiking of 25 + 37 Km (highest point 1019 m), 3 nights half board in a 3 star hotel, return passenger ferry ticket, all transfers within the island (until 8 person), insurance and technical assistance during the excursions. The package does not include: the return journey from your place of departure to Piombino, return ferry passage for cars, drinks at meals, all lunches, entrance tickets to museums, parks or similar even if scheduled in the programme, extras and anything not specified in the entry “The package includes”. | | | On the hike across Elba you really get to know Elba in an active way. As you walk along Elban paths, accompanied by expert and qualified local guides, you find uncontaminated natural surroundings rich in wild life, you discover traces of thousands of years of history and get to know the culture of people who have, down through the centuries, absorbed cultural and genetic influences from all the civilizations facing onto the Mediterranean, you discover a geological reality which is unique in the world, admiring breathtaking views of Elba, the Tuscan coast, Corsica, and all the smaller islands of the Tuscan Archipelago; you visit various natural environments (cliffs, dunes, scrub, Mediterranean vegetation, woods, rocky peaks) you get to know a large number of plant species, and observe wild animals such as wild bore, mouflon (a type of wild sheep) and, fawns. Doing the hike across Elba on foot gives you the chance in no time to discover and get to know a myriad of facets of Elba, because these are very concentrated in this small but great island. | The Hike across Elba Programme: | 1st day: | Arrive at Piombino port with your own transport. Transfer from Portoferraio port to hotel, accommodation in rooms. | 2nd day: | Hiking from Chiessi to Marina di Campo 25 km highest point 1019 m. | 3rd day: | Hiking from Marina di Campo to Cavo 37 km highest point 516 m. | 4th day: | Departure from hotel to Portoferraio port. |  | Route of hiking trip | | | Description of the first leg of hike. | We leave from Chiessi and begin to go up a path surrounded by low lying vineyards. We arrive at the foot of mount S. Bartolomeo (400 m asl) where we find a Romanesque church (12th century). We continue to go up a path that winds at more or less the same level, between typical plants of the Mediterranean with beautiful views of the valleys of Chiessi and Pomonte.
After reaching “Troppolo” (692 m) we go down a well paved path with lush vegetation; on our right is the imposing granite mass of Monte di Cote (950 m) and below are chestnut trees. We continue until we get to “Masso dell’Aquilla” (Eagle massive) (634 m), which has some interesting archaeological remains. After leaving “l’Aquila” we get to the Madonna del Monte Sanctuary (630 m) with its old chestnut trees.
As we descend towards Marciana, we turn into a beautiful path which will take us to the Valley of Pedalta; from here the footpath, which is hidden in greenery, will take us to Saint Cerbone’s hermitage, built in 1421 by Benedictine monks. After leaving the hermitage we start our ascent of Monte Capanne (1019 m asl), first walking along an easy footpath below chestnut trees, then up steep rubble heading to the summit (the highest point on Elba). At the top there is an amazing view of the island, the other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica and a good part of the Tuscan coast.
There is a steep descent to Filicaie (870 m), at the top of the Nivera and Poio valleys, and on to the “i macei” (rubble), a striking rock slide of large granite slabs. Now along the path to Monte Maolo (749 m), and a fine viewpoint, and then descending again through the valley of Sassinca to reach the medieval borough of Sant Ilario. Leaving this town we get to Marina di Campo. |
| Description of the 2nd leg of the hike | On leaving Marina di Campo we go up the Segagnana Coast towards Monte Tambone (377 m). A spectacular view of the coast below and Fonza beach, the Priolo rock and le Mete Point opens up from here. Arriving at the top we take a path to a striking and mysterious Megalithic temple. Next we take a path that brings us onto the central spine of Elba, from here we can admire, at the same time, both the north and south sides of the island. After passing Colle Reciso, we go up again to Monte Orello (377 m). Where there is a magnificent view of Portoferraio and its Medici forts. On the descent we have a grand view of Lacona beach, Capo Stella and in the background Punta Calamita. After crossing over the main road we begin to go up the Buraccio valley, before going over the top we turn left towards Monte Castello (390 m). On reaching the summit we can see below the charming Monserrato sanctuary.
We continue to go up, surrounded by low bush or scrub and a few wind bent pine trees, till we get to Cima del Monte (516 m), from here we overlook Volterraio castle (400 m) and the town of Rio nell’Elba. There is a steep descent to the town which has been known from ancient times for its iron mines. Next we visit the Saint Caterina hermitage (16th century) and then the ruins of Grassera, a village raised to the ground in 1534 by the Saracens.
We ascend the last summit of our crossing, Mount Giove (352 m), and find the powerful ruin of the Giogo Fort (1460). From here we overlook the mines and beyond Piombino channel, with the islands of Cerboli and Palmaiola. Finally after a forty minute walk we get to Cavo, the Elban town nearest the mainland, where we finish our hike across Elba.
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Hiking excursions 
