Route length 4 days
The Via dell’Essenza is an enchanting trekking route that will take you to discover the Island of Elba, the main island of the Tuscan archipelago. This itinerary has been created in synergy with “Smart Walking”, Davide Fiz’s project that combines trekking and agile work, to enjoy tourism and work slowly, with a backpack on your shoulders and the desire to discover the historical and naturalistic heritage of our territories!
Via dei Lentischi
This itinerary allows you to discover a part of the Via dell’Essenza, a project commissioned by the Acqua dell’Elba Foundation – in collaboration with the Tuscan Archipelago Park – to enhance the natural beauty of the island. What inebriates the wayfarer are not only the incredible views but also the scents of plants and flowers. The Via is in fact an extraordinary path with green and blue hues: sea and mountains. Inebriated by the scent of its essences: lavender, rosemary, juniper, broom, cistus, strawberry tree, helichrysum, myrtle, mastic.
A ring of almost 70 km around the massif of Monte Capanne in the central-western part of the island. It enhances a part of the trail network that insists on the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
The first stage – which takes the name of Via dei Lentischi – starts from Marciana Marina and arrives in Sant’Andrea on historic mule tracks parallel to the sea.
The Way of the Mastic Trees: Length 6.68 km – Maximum altitude 197 m
Address: Marciana Marina, LI, Italy
Heather Way
The second stage, called Via dell’Erica, starts from Sant’Andrea and climbs up to Mortigliano. The peculiarity of these trails is that they allow you to always go trekking with a view of the sea and at all times of the year, along simple routes that can be practiced by everyone: hikers and amateurs, families, children, school groups.
The Way of Heather: Length 7.12 km – Maximum altitude 142 m
Address: Sant’Andrea, LI, Italy
Lavender Way
The third stage is called Via della Lavanda and leads from Mortigliano to Cavoli.
The Lavender Route: Length 15.8 km – Maximum altitude 583 m
Address: Mortigliano, LI, Italy
Rosemary Route
The fourth stop on this itinerary is the Via dei Rosmarini, which leads from Cavoli to Fonza.
The Rosemary Route: Length 9.75 km – Maximum altitude 157 m
Address: Cavoli, LI, Italy
Via dei Ginepri
The Via dei Ginepri leads from Fonza to Lacona. While after a bend in the path Montecristo appears imposing, the scent of wild lavender or rosemary or juniper help to fantasize about the exploits of the Count from the pen of Alexandre Dumas. Or while coming out of a regenerating swim in the emerald water of Fonza beach, the broom and the sea cistus lull the mind and nostrils.
And the sight of the sun – playing hide-and-seek with the moon escaping behind the island of Capraia – is accompanied by the scents of strawberry tree and helichrysum.
The Juniper Route: Length 7.30 km – Maximum altitude 162 m
Address: Fonza, LI, Italy
Via dei Lecci
The Via dei Lecci starts from Lacona and leads to Procchio.
The Via dei Lecci: Length 9.33 km – Maximum altitude 78 m
Address: Lacona LI, Italy
Myrtle Route
Finally, the seventh and last stage that leads from Procchio to the starting point, Marciana Marina: it is the Via del Mirto. The days end by working surrounded by the flowers of tamarisks, holm oaks, myrtles and mastic trees. Elba is not just sea and it is not just summer.
To discover the essence of a place you have to walk on it. Sea, land, land, sea: Via dell’Essenza, Island of Elba
The Myrtle Route: Length 9.6 km – Maximum altitude 236 m
Address: Procchio LI, Italy
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