Hotel Danila: itineraries to knonw well the island of Elba ...

» Island of Elba: itineraries

Here are a few of the itineraries worth experimenting during your stay at the HOTEL DANILA:

Excursion Scaglieri - Forno - Viticcio: is a trail that departs near to our hotel, from the Forno beach and leads always along side the sea until the Viticcio coast. The trail is immersed in the green macchia vegetation and seems somewhat out of this world. Nice and fresh also during the summer time due to the shade of the large pine trees.

Portoferraio: the capital of Elba: the island's capital town only 4 km distant, is accessed also by local bus. Founded by the Romans, Cosimo de Medici and his Florentine successors built the fortress, a masterpiece of military architecture, so perfect that it was considered one of the safest places in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1814 Napoleon arrived on Elba and profoundly marked the territory and the economic and social fabric of the city and indeed of the whole island.

Portoferraio is now a flourishing town, an established cultural centre ( with an international classical music festival held each September, a conference hall, a small restored theatre, the more important museums), and has well organised docks, a good shopping area and each Friday it hosts the island's biggest open-air general market.

Absolutely to do on your holiday itinerary is a visit to the "Villa della Linguella" with it's small museum, the Villa Romana delle Grotte (2 kms out of town), Napoleons Museum/Villa San Martino (1 km), the Medici forts surrounding the town with Napoleons "Villa Mulini", Forte Stella, Forte Falcone, Torre del Martello; the Teatro dei Vigilanti (originally a deconsecrated church transformed by Napoleon into a theatre); the beautiful churches - Duomo, Chiesa della Reverenda Misericordia (where you can admire a bronze mask and hand cast of Napoleon) - the Chiesa SS.Sacramento and La Biscotteria (Town Hall); the Pinacoteca Foresiana picture gallery contains works by Signorini, Cannici, Nomellini, Cigheri, Bilivert and other famous artists. Browsing around the streets in the old town centre is a pleasant way to discover "hidden" angles of everyday life from the local bakers shop to numerous handicraft boutiques.

Aquarium of Elba: the second largest Aquarium in Italy after the one in Genova. The aquarium of Elba hosts more than 2.000 different fishes typical for the Thyrrenian Sea, representing around 160 different species. Inside of the aquarium you will also find a museum showing the fauna of Elba with more than 250 animals represented in their natural environment.

The small mine: in Porto Azzurro is a real reproduction of a typical mining gallery. The little train used for the visit departs every half hour and the visit takes 15 minutes.

Monte Capanne: is the highest mountain of the island (1.019 meters) and can easily be reached thanks to the cableway situated just a little bit before Marciana. On a fine and clear day you can admire the view over the whole island, over the other islands of the Arcipelago until the Etruscan coast and even the island of Corsica. Absolutely to be done.

Boat excursions: Boat excursions: During the summer there are numerous boat trips to the surrounding islands of Capraia, Giglio, Pianosa and Montecristo. A special word for Pianosa: until a couple of years ago this was a prison island, it is now possible for limited numbers to visit the island with authorised guides.

A boat excursion to Pianosa usually includes the Villa Agrippa, the catacombs, the ancient town with its picturesque harbour and gives time for a swim in the limpid waters that surround the island.

The elban farmers, guardians of millenary viticultural traditions today, as yesterday, produce excellent wines. They now bear the quality mark of "D.O.C.": Elba Bianco, Elba Red, Rosato dell'Elba, Ansonica Passito, Moscato and Aleatico.

Avisit to a local wine cellar is another interesting alternative to "sun and sea"!