The tuscan gem in the Mediterranean
Relais delle Picchiaie – Four stars – Isle of Elba

… There is an isle in the Mediterranean, where the cristalline sea dresses itself with thousand tonalities, to touch lightly wide beaches, insinuate into deep hidden quays in the green or to crash against huge cliffs and shores

Trips around the Isle of Elba

A simple beauty, breath-taking, and discrete, but omnipresent, tracks of its millenari history, will be the elements taking you along the path to discover the Elba. We only tracked some possibilities, we hope can lead you to become close with our island’s peculiarities.

Volterraio castle - Isle of Elba

Volterraio castle is without any doubts one of the most fascinatine symbols of the problematic and long history of the Isle of Elba. Built around year 1000 a. D., probably upon some remainings of the etruscan and roman civilization, it watched for centuries over the island’s security, always remaining unconquered. Which is not a surprise if you stop for a moment, to look at the rock it was built upon and the architectonical devices used to make it appear even more majestic.
The castle decline, unfortunately more than clear nowadays, began with the “pacifist” and neutralist politics of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II who, at the end of the XVIII century, ruled to reduce the expenses for the defense: however, it still remains a very suggestive place, worthy to be observed at very close distance.

 

Two visits at Volterraio

Visit at the castle

Reach with the car the casemates that can be found more or lessa round half way on the street to Volterraio, where you will be able to park. A little bit further you can find the path leading to the fort chapel, built in 1688 that will anticipate the vast panorama you are going to enjoy from the castle. Some more walking and you’ll reach the castle. The access to the fort is not one of the most comfortable and we suggest you, not to try it: the sight and the powerful spirit of ancient history you are going to breathe up there will make the effort worth to be done, that is for sure.

Contemplating the castle

Pass through the castle with the car and stop, where the descent begins, in one of the areas, where you can also stay a little longer on the benches, under the pine shades. Take the path on the other side of the road and, walking just a few minutes, you will reach higher and higher peaks, from where to admire the Volterraio fort with its earth: Portoferraio gulf and the city bastions. The landscape at the horizion, however, has tons of surpreises for you, above all in the brighter days, when you are going to see all the islands of the Archipelago and Corsica, the Etruscan coast, Apuane Alps and the Argentario. Only now you can fully understand Volterraio castle’s strategc value and the magical and mysterious halo that has always been around it.

Holy Lucia church Luceri fortress - Colle Reciso

Luceri fortress, built by pisan domination around 1000 a.D., is another wonderful example of buildings meant for defence and surveillance. Raised on Colle Reciso heights, it gives a very wide visual, including the whole territory of the elban main city and let quick communication with Volterraio and the sight tower in Marciana Marina.
The fortress was destroyed at the time of Ottoman pirate raids, during the XVI century. To reach it is very simple, even walking: take the right path from the Relais towards Colle Reciso cave. Once there, turn left and take the road on your right, where a bill points towards Holy Lucia church. There will be a path among the trees, taking you to an open field, where another path begins, taking you, between flowers and cistus bushes and brooms, to the suggestive remainings of the fortress. Wonderful and unusual panorama.

Napoleon and the isle of Elba

Napoleon had two houses on the Isle of Elba.

Villa dei Mulini: a small palais with architectonical lines, where he lived the first and last months of his stay. Inside you can admire furniture, masterpieces and documents that belonged to him.

San Martino villa was built by the emperor, enlarging a pre-existing rural house. The Napoleonic museum, built by prince Demidoff is just near this villa.