A stroll through the streets of Marciana
Marciana is a small village of 2,000 inhabitants that stands on the heights of Elba, surrounded by the island's peaks: Monte Capanne, which is just over a thousand meters high, and Monte Giove and Le Calanche, which are about 800 meters high. This small village is one of the places to visit or stay if you want to escape the typical summer mass tourism of Elba's beaches. Here, everything flows slowly and you can't hear any traffic, because the streets are all terraced, as they have been since ancient times. The houses, mostly built high, act as surrounding walls, almost as if to defend this peace, and all around are Mediterranean scrub forests, where chestnut trees are predominant. It is The kingdom of those who love trekking and walks immersed in greenery, along typically mountain paths, rocks that appear here and there, and panoramic views that can be glimpsed between the branches and reveal the sea not far away. From here you can observe some of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Marciana could be defined as a terrace overlooking the sea, together with the village opposite, Poggio. Both are the highest inhabited centers on the entire island. The streets of Poggio are also paved with granite and all lead towards the center of the village, represented by the Church of San Niccolò. In Poggio there is a famous spring known as Napoleon's Fountain. A stroll through the alleys and small squares of Marciana will reveal Its medieval origins and many historic buildings, such as the castle and the Mint, were built by the lords of Piombino, the Appiani. The Pisan Fortress dates back to the 10th century, and is still visible today with its walls above the town. It appears to have had a defensive function, but also to control its subjects. Since 2013, a museum has been open to visitors inside, preserving some artifacts found in the castle as well as medieval weapons and artillery. Marciana has a very large municipal territory, which includes a myriad of other small hamlets that gently thin out towards the coast. Among the most interesting attractions is the cable car that from the Pozzatello area reaches 950 m on Monte Capanne, with a unique view of the sea. Don't miss the summer events of the Beer and Leather Festival.
The beaches of Marciana
Sant'Andrea is one of Marciana's beaches, distinguished by an imposing cliff and the fact that it has become a renowned tourist center. The beach is equipped with bars, restaurants, umbrellas, deckchairs, and games, and there are several accommodations nearby, which blend perfectly with the landscape without distorting it. Other well-known seaside resorts include Chiessi, with a narrow pebble beach and emerald water, backed by a group of houses and a short promenade that ends at large, smooth rocks that slope down towards the water like a giant slide. Pomonte is A small beach with clear, shallow water, coarse sand, and large rocks to dive from. It is a public beach of breathtaking beauty and ideal for snorkeling. The Pomonte seabed is also famous for the wreck of the Elviscott, which sank in 1972 and has now become a sort of marine reserve populated by fish, algae, marine microorganisms, and sponges. The beaches of Chiessi and Pomonte are part of the so-called "Costa del Sole," which also offers wonderful sunsets not to be missed. The largest beach in Marciana is Procchio, home to several hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
How to get to the beach
The municipality of Marciana provides a shuttle service every summer to all the beaches. By car, to reach Chiessi, take the SP25 and then Via del Libeccio, while to reach Pomonte, continue on the SP25 and then take Via degli Oleandri south. Procchio beach can be reached from the SP24, which leads to Via delle Ginestre.
