Mountains

When nature evokes poetry

The spontaneous blooms of Troppolo

Stroll over amber-coloured flagstones in the midst of the idyllic surroundings of the Troppolo, as the sky above stretches far to the horizon. We recommend you visit here in spring. There are many ways to reach Troppolo from Capo Sant’Andrea and with varying degrees of difficulty. Try the route beginning in nearby Zanca leading towards Madonna del Monte and passing through Bollero, Troppolo and descending to Colle d’Orano.

Masso dell’Aquila

Panoramic view over Sant’Andrea

From Masso dell’Aquila you can admire the wonderful view of Sant’Andrea and the water of the bay is so clear that you can see down to the seabed even from this height. Not only is the landscape very beautiful, Masso dell’Aquila is also a place of historical interest. Numerous finds from the Bronze Age have been found here and Napoleon Bonaparte also visited the site. There are various routes, and with varying degrees of difficulty, leading to Masso dell’Aquila starting from Sant’Andrea and Marciana.

La Signora dell’Arcipelago (1,019 m)

Monte Capanne, the highest peak on Elba, an experience for everyone

Capo Sant’Andrea is fortunately situated at the foot of the highest peak in the Tuscan Archipelago and in the entire province of Livorno, Monte Capanne. The easiest way to reach the top of this granite giant is via the lifts, just 15 minutes by car from Sant’Andrea.
For the more experienced, there are numerous footpaths of varying degrees of difficulty and which mean that you can walk up to the summit of Monte Capanne and back down in about 5 hours. Our advice is to consult the expert local guides about the paths best suited to your ability before venturing out.

Calanche, one surprise after another

Take in the all round panorama

Le Calanche, together with the nearby Filicaie, are two of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints on Elba. Admire boundless views and then enjoy discovering, between the natural fissures in the granite, the delightful “Fiordaliso del Capanne”, which is native to and only found on the western side of Elba. There are at least three trails of varying difficulty leading this little paradise on top of the world. We recommend that you go here accompanied by an expert local guide, who can evaluate the route that best suits your needs and ability.

Family-Friendly Trails

Nature that is also accessible for children

From Sant’Andrea there are many opportunities for family outings. The stretch of footpath no. 150 between Sant’Andrea and Cotoncello at sea level, which the locals call “Calello”, is especially noteworthy. There are several other routes for families, such as footpath no.103, a gentle mule track leading to the Madonna del Monte and beyond to the beautiful Serraventosa; the path has many wonderful views as well as the strange, natural phenomenon of the “Stone Monsters”. The Pedalta ring, a wide forest track through chestnut woods, is also very family-friendly.

Serraventosa

A walk among the spectacular yellow “pincushions” of Genista Desoleana

There are several ways to get to Serraventosa. It isn’t an easy walk, but with a little effort it can be tackled. Before venturing to these idyllic places, we recommend you to ask local experts for advice. You could consider a day’s adventure to include the pilgrim trail to the Madonna del Monte, then on to Serraventosa and, thereafter, the beautiful chestnut woods of Bollero, not to mention the many natural and archaeological attractions in the area.

Along the Crest, truly a mountain experience

Le Filicaie, 870 m, footpath no. 100

Following footpath no. 100 means walking on the crests overlooking the whole island in the company of large granite sculptures shaped by the wind.

Tips: start from the Monte Perone Grande Traversata Elbana – Great Elba Crossing, and after following the Butterfly Trail through the butterfly sanctuary, you join footpath no. 100, which offers some truly amazing views. We recommend you talk to a local expert to assess the degree of difficulty and the ideal conditions to tackle this route, which is as demanding as it is exciting; the stretch that continues after the Filicaie requires special equipment.