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Long weekend Elba & Pianosa |
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Hiking Elba and Pianosa – long weekend programme
|  | A day of Hiking on the Island of Elba and one on the Island of Pianosa. Discover, in the company of local expert environmental guides, the most beautiful and fascinating places on these two Islands. | | | | The Island of Elba is the biggest and most beautiful of the Tuscan Archipelago, where the landscape and vegetation varies continuously, from the low perfumed scrub of the “Tombe” to the luxurious chestnut woods of the Marciana area, from the red peaks of the eastern part to the powerful granite massive of Monte Capanne, whose summit dominates all of the Tuscan Archipelago. Pianosa, completely flat and exceptionally luminous with its white rocks which enhance the transparency of the emerald-green sea is rich in history: prehistoric tombs, the buildings of the ex prison settlement, Agrippa’s Roman villa, the Christian catacombs. But, above all, the colours, the shapes of the rocks and the intense perfume of the Mediterranean maquis fascinates visitors to this marvellous Island, part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and where it is only possible for a set number of people to visit on this type of excursion with. | Dates 2011 and price: on request
| | The price includes: return passenger ticket, 3 overnight stays in a three star hotel with half board (breakfast and dinner), 3 guided excursions as programme, Pianosa ticket, transfers port – hotel – port and hotel – excursion – hotel, insurance, assistance. | Programme of the Island of Elba and Pianosa hiking excursion: |  | thursday: | arrival on Elba and accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay | | friday: | breakfast, full day excursion, dinner and overnight stay | | saturday: | breakfast and full day excursion to the Island of Pianosa lunch in the canteen or packed lunch, return to Elba and departure for Portoferraio. | | sunday: | departure | | | | Hiking excursion routes | | 2nd day Friday, Get to know Elba’s mountain Route: Marciana - Pomonte Distance: km 15.850 Time: about 7 hours Interest: historical, naturalistic, panoramic. | We set out from Marciana (408 m asl), the highest town on Elba situated on the north slope of the granite massive of Monte Capanne. Following the narrow and steep lanes of this austere medieval borough we get to a fortress built around 1200 and then we walk up the easy footpath that crosses the green Pedalta valley till we reach the Saint Cerbone hermitage. The sanctuary was built in 1421 by Benedictine monks near the Saint’s grotto where Saint Cerbone retreated during the last years of his life, before dying in 534. Leaving the sanctuary we begin our ascent of Monte Capanne (1019 m asl) first we follow a path under chestnut trees, where it is possible to meet deer, then we cross steep “macei” (rubble) among holm oaks. Forty minutes walk from the Hermitage we find a “caprile” (old Elban shepherds’ stone refuge) and an enclosure for the animals. From this point the path is very panoramic, and mastering the luxuriant Nivera valley, which leads to the summit of Monte Capanne (1019 m and the highest point on the island) here we can enjoy an amazing view of Elba and of the other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica and a good part of the Tuscan coast. From Capanne we quickly descend to Filicaie (870 m asl), a small plateau half way between Monte Capanne and Monte Calanche, to continue the descent towards the refuges under the rocks of “Grottaccia” crossing over the bare dorsal of “Cenno” where mouflons live undisturbed under the vigilant eye of buzzards and Peregrine falcons. Continuing we get to the ancient stone village of “Mura”, the biggest hill fortifications on Elba. The village, inhabited by Villanovan people was destroyed in 453 BC by people from Siracuse and was never rebuilt. Much of the perimeter wall of the original structure remains (in some parts it is higher than two metres) and there are many worked stones, which were used in later times by shepherds in the building of “caprile” (round stone refuges) and animal enclosures. Crossing the “Valle del Poio” (valley) we descend towards Pomonte following a stream full of water even in summer, there are numerous waterfalls and small ponds, it is difficult place to forget. The large valley above Pomonte was once upon a time completely terraced from the sea to 640 m high and cultivated with vines; the majority of the vineyards are abandoned today, but there remains an enormous amphitheatre of granite as witness to the great work of Elban peasants.
The trip finishes among the white sea facing houses of Pomonte.
| | | | 3rd day Saturday: Discovering Pianosa Time: 8 ore Distance: km 19,5 Interest: historical, geological, landscape. | Description of route: We leave from Marina di Campo port and after a 35 minute crossing disembark on Pianosa, where we visit the abandoned town and begin our walk in the interior of the island visiting buildings and farms of the abandoned ex agricultural settlement, in this area we find numerous red legged partridges and pheasants introduced two centuries ago when Pianosa was a private hunting reserve for the Grand Duke of Tuscany, admiring the fine dry stone walls which are typical of the Island, we head to the Marchese castle, an elegant building built at the northernmost point of the Island, it has had multiple uses during its romantic history.
Below us is the beautiful Porto Romano bay, its crystal clear waters are exalted by the white crumbly rocks that delimit its border.
Returning south along the west coast we reach the Botte gulf and visit the ancient washhouses and the Roman aqueduct. Our excursion continues along the beautiful Pianosa coast (where we can see many seabirds, for example the Cory’s Shearwater) and then in the interior, surrounded by the intense perfumes of the Mediterranean vegetation. The complete lack of higher ground gives us the sensation of being able to reach both Elba and Corsica on foot. After visiting the remains of the Roman Villa of Arippa we finish our trip on Cala Giovanna beach, the only place on Pianosa where bathing is permitted. | | |
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