Lun - Sab 10:00 – 17:00
On the island of Elba there are four lighthouses plus two structures located on islets and rocky outcrops. In addition to the lighthouses, on the island you can find old traffic lights of the Royal Italian Navy, signaling and control stations for naval traffic between the Ligurian Sea and the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Nowadays both lighthouses and traffic lights are important signals, which recall the past and/and ensure the safety of navigation . The Elba Island Lighthouse Path is a hiking route that connects the various lighthouses and traffic lights of the island along the sea, touching many towns on the island in a continuous panoramic ups and downs, and providing gasto-cultural encounters. The Elba Island Lighthouse Trail was designed by expert hikers to allow you to enjoy an itinerary that allows you to cross the entire 'Island of Elba in 6 stages . The route is fairly well signposted with orientation signs and lighthouses, however it is necessary to have a trail map in hand. In some places it overlaps with the Great Crossing of Elba .
When and how
The Elba Island Lighthouse Walk can be done all year round, particularly in spring and autumn, with the possibility of a swim stop. We advise you to wear trekking clothing and shoes, and bring with you a good supply of water and food, since there are no water points except in the villages.
Stage 1 starts from Patresi, from which you reach the Punta Polveraia Lighthouse , an imposing military structure built in 1909 that overlooks the Corsica Channel. After admiring the first lighthouse, we will begin to follow path 150 up to Marciana Marina, where we can stop before going back up towards Poggio/Colle di Procchio, where the first stage of the journey ends.
The second day begins uphill along path n° 115 and follows path n° 180 up to Colle Reciso until you reach Procchio, where you can stop on the beach if you wish. Continue on the beautiful path n° 245, skirting all the famous beaches of Biodola, Scaglieri, Forno and Viticcio. Arriving in Portoferraio you will be able to admire the lighthouses of Forte Stella , Forte Falcone and the Torre della Linguella and the Scoglietto lighthouse , located on the top of the islet of the same name at the entrance to the gulf of Portoferraio which we admire from above.
The third stage of our journey follows part of the Grande Traversata Elbana GTE, which with difficulty and views takes us to the Montegrosso traffic light , a former control and defense point built during the Second World War, now a private home. From here, continuing on the path between continuous ups and downs, you reach the seafront and the beaches of Cavo.
Stage 4 starts from Rio Marina, the town that glitters, where we visit the Rio Lighthouse characterized by a particular battlement and a medieval-inspired access staircase.
We walk along the Path of Love towards Capo Ortano, and then continue to Capo D'Arco, until we reach Porto Azzurro, where you can stop, rest, enjoy the sea and have a lunch/coffee break.
From here, passing through Mola you reach Forte Focardo , a Spanish fort from the 1600s embellished with the lighthouse of the same name, currently under renovation. With a climb we arrive towards Monte Calamita, once famous for its intense mining activity, an Air Force military station, an ancient traffic light created in 1958 , once the Piombino one was decommissioned. The path continues up to the beautiful and characteristic Capoliveri, where we will stop.
Starting from Lacona, with its endless beach and dunes, we reach the Marina di Campo lighthouse on the sea with a nice up and down, from which we go up towards the beautiful Capo Poro lighthouse from which you can see Montecristo, Pianosa and Corsica . During the Second World War, a military post was located here. With a beautiful path overlooking the sea we go down and then go back up with path n°138 to the small village of San Piero, from which you can see the famous Monte Capanne of 1019m.
The sixth and final stage of the journey starts from Pomonte, unless you want to reach it by walking from the caprili path. With the path we continue towards Chiessi until we go up to the Campo alle Serre traffic light , which overlooks the Corsica channel. The stage ends with the return to Patresi along the northern route of the GTE from Serra Ventosa or another path facing Corsica.
Lasca la Randa organizes two weekends of 3 stages each. Visit the site to find the dates.
