The Way of the Essence: a journey in 7 stages through the Island of Elba

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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