Elba Island, a meeting of senses between land and sea

A sensorial encounter between terrestrial and marine nature, where the scents of the Mediterranean scrub mix with the salty ones of the sea, a harmonious coexistence that on Elba translates into an immersive journey into the two souls of the island through two experiences: that of walking along the Via dell'Essenza and that of sailing in the open sea, scrutinizing the breathing of cetaceans.

Elba Island. (Erika Scafuro)

Protected by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park – which includes the seven islands of Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri and Gorgona – the territory of the island of Elba, predominantly mountainous and hilly, includes a vast network of trails that cover approximately 375 kilometers of hiking trails accessible all year round. Among the most scenic is the Via dell'Essenza, born from an idea by Umberto Segnini, today it is an initiative managed by the Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba in collaboration with the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, in order to promote environmental protection and slow and sustainable tourism on the island. The Via dell'Essenza, which is planned to be built along the entire circumnavigation of the island, is today a walking route of 66.5 kilometers in total that develops in central-western Elba around Monte Capanne – at 1,019 meters it is the highest peak in the province of Livorno; the completion of the western ring of this hiking trail was inaugurated during the seventh edition of SEIF – Isola d'Elba, Sea Essence International Festival, organized by Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba in recent days. The Via dell'Essenza is made up of eight sensory paths enriched by information signs with QR codes, digital maps and enhancement of points of historical and naturalistic interest.

Holm Oak Street. (Erika Scafuro)

Eight stages that take their name from the symbolic plants of the Elban landscape and that lead on a journey through the scents of mastic trees, heather, lavender, cistus, junipers, rosemary, holm oaks and myrtle. Fragrances of Mediterranean scrub that intertwine with those of the sea, accompany the steps and breathing of walkers, guide through a beauty to be taken in with all the senses and allow you to explore the western part of Elba. There is the Via dei Lentischi, an easy 6.5 kilometre stretch that connects the town of Marciana Marina to the village of Sant'Andrea; the Via dell'Erica that from Sant'Andrea leads to Colle d'Orano, accompanying walkers are specimens of tree heather; the Via della Lavanda is a challenging 7.6 kilometre stretch because from the coast it climbs up the western slopes of Monte Capanne, starts from Colle d'Orano and leads to the picturesque village of Pomonte; The Via dei Cisti stage is also challenging, which goes from Pomonte to Seccheto, but allows you to stop at Fetovaia beach, one of the most popular on the island; the Via dei Ginepri goes from Seccheto to Marina di Campo and in the first part crosses paths that allow you to reach various ancient granite artefacts and prehistoric sites; the Via dei Rosmarini instead connects Marina di Campo to Lacona, it is one of the longest and most challenging stretches, the effort repaid by the enchanting panoramic views and the scent of rosemary and other Mediterranean shrubs; the Via dei Lecci is an easy 9-kilometer stretch that begins in Lacona and is characterized by the thick vegetation of holm oaks, reaches various small beaches and ends at the famous beach of Procchio; finally, the Via del Mirto from Procchio leads to close the ring of the Via dell'Essenza at the ancient seaside village of Marciana Marina with its pastel-colored houses overlooking the sea.

Walking along the Holm Oak Way. (Erika Scafuro)

On the Island of Elba, where a path ends, the slow pace of walking is replaced by the slow rhythm of sailing in the open sea and the guide is no longer the scent of the Mediterranean scrub, but the attentive and patient gaze in search of the breathing of cetaceans or their presence. The experience of observing marine mammals in their natural habitat, including fin whales, sperm whales, common dolphins, striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, is possible here because we are in the heart of the Pelagos Sanctuary, a marine protected area that unites, with an international agreement, Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco, for the protection of marine mammals in the Mediterranean, an area that includes the sixty thousand hectares of sea of ​​the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, whose seven islands have also been recognized as a MaB Unesco Biosphere Reserve. The presence of cetaceans of all the species frequenting the Mediterranean is recorded in an extraordinary way during the summer months, an incredible naturalistic heritage that the Tuscan Archipelago Park allows you to discover by organizing whale watching excursions in compliance with good sustainable navigation practices, in collaboration with the Mickey Mouse motorboat, departing from the port of Marina di Campo on Mondays and Thursdays until September 4, accompanied by a marine biologist and park guide. During the trip you will be able to meet the cetaceans that populate the waters along the coast of Elba: whether they are playful dolphins, sperm whales that dive showing their tails or the queens of the sea, the reserved fin whales, the Mediterranean Sea amazes even the most incredulous. Walking among the scents of the Mediterranean scrub or scanning the horizon in search of cetaceans, the nature of Elba expresses itself with all the senses. And when it is time to return home, through the scented artisan creations of Acqua dell'Elba, there is the possibility of taking the essence of the island with you.