Hotel Sant'Andrea on the Island of Elba

Discovering Elba

Sailing

Sail the blue of our sea, rocked by gentle waves and surrounded by the inebriating cool sea breeze, enchanted by views of uncontaminated, isolated coastlines that can be reached solely by sea. It will be a unique, unrepeatable experience and you can enjoy it thanks to Nicola, our trusted partner from the Mare e Monti Association, who, with his beloved sailboat, the "Nina", will offer you an unforgettable day.

You can choose from three different itineraries: following the coast of the Island to the west or to the east; or navigating towards the Red Island of "Capraia".
In addition to his professionalism and hospitality, Nicola and his family will offer you drinks and lunch, onboard the "Nina".

Reservations required.

The Gondola lift on Elba (www.cabinovia-isoladelba.it/)
Just a short distance from the center of Marciana, there is a Gondola lift that toes to the highest peak of the Island of Elba, Monte Capanne (1019 m). The lift was built in the early 1960s and fully renovated in 2005, making it possible to reach the station at the top (950 m above sea level) in just 18 minutes.

From atop Monte Capanne you can admire Elba, the islands in the archipelago and Corsica in all of their beauty and on the horizon you can make out the profile of the Tuscan coastline on the mainland. Like an ancient mapmaker, you can see many of the characteristics and the beauty of the Elban geography with the naked eye. On the descent, accompanied by a pleasant breeze, you will experience the emotion of seeing the seascape with a glimpse of Marciana from above.

Elba Aquarium (www.acquarioelba.com)
The Elba Aquarium is a completely private structure, built and managed on a small island, without having requested or used public funding. It cannot be compared to the large Aquariums built or renovated in recent years by multinational concerns or public institutions: however, it is considered one of the most complete of the existing Mediterranean aquariums.

It is located in an indoor display area of about 1000 square meters and can be visited regardless of atmospheric conditions: it includes over 80 tanks, filled with 250,000 liters of sea water. The aquarium was built by artisans and is based on an original alternation of shapes and sizes, decorated with natural and artificial materials in an effort to faithfully reproduce the characteristic habitats of the various organisms.

The variety of species hosted by the aquarium offers a unique panoramic view of the incredible biodiversity of the waters surrounding the Island of Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago. Young and old, alike, will be enthralled by the adventure of discovering the aquarium's biological richness, which is as impressive as that of tropical seas.

Ginevro Mines (www.www.minieredicalamita.it)
The emotion evoked by the underground world, the charm of the past and the touching memories of the men who lived there will accompany you along the underground paths of the Miniera del Ginevro.

Put on a helmet and enjoy the panorama and the stories told by the mine guides as you walk through the mines.
Once inside the tunnels, you will learn about the history of Capoliveri, the anecdotes told by the miners, the antique tools of the trade, the trains, the pulleys and the hammers used to excavate 7km of roads in the rock, down to 54 m below sea level.

There are no difficult ups or downs on an easy walk to discover the unusual underground landscapes and to see how the miners worked, ate and lived in the mine. You will take the oldest tunnel, 6 meters above sea level, excavated after WWII in search of Magnetite, the best ferrous mineral, bought by factories and transformed into cast iron and steel.

Outside the mine, enjoy the uncontaminated nature of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, the sea, the mineral loading and treatment systems, one with the unique Mount Calamita landscape.
A visit to the Museo della Vecchia Officina will complete your underground experience and offer a more in depth look at mining life.