The Tuscan Archipelago National Park this year is celebrating its fourth edition of the Tuscany Walking Festival. Taking advantage of all the benefits mother nature has to offer means living a better life.

This year the Festival starts off with two opening ceremonies, one on April 6th in Rio nell’Elba on the eastern side of the island, and the other on April 7th in Marciana, on the western side, with a very full programme indeed: beautiful walks, both during the day and at night, breathtaking views, some routes along the mineral archeology with the island of Montecristo in the background, or stone goat shelters and granite roads with the island of Pianosa in the corner of your eye, other routes that are perfumed and colourful, laboratories for children, schools for the preparation of medicinal herbs, and much, much more.

The philosophy of the festival: regaining the benefits of mother nature. Photography, painting and contemporary art lovers, and hobby lovers in general, will be given special treatment. During the festival a Convention will be held on the subject of the environment and the happiness it can give, with many innovative ideas and suggestions on how to live better. The Park has also published new brochures: as well as the guide to the most characteristic excursions in the Park, translated into three foreign languages, there is a brochure about the fascinating history of the Tuna fishing nets in Enfola, and a small guide for excursions on horseback, and by bike.

The festival will take place from April 6th to May 6th, and then during the autumn from September 29th to November 1st. All activities will be held not only on the Islands of Elba, Giglio and Capraia, but also Giannutri and Pianosa, in an attempt to attract those who prefer to go on holiday offseason, and who will thus have the chance to follow the paths, in the company of expert guides, completely free of charge.

The new tourism-ecology Project carried out by the board in collaboration with the firms inside the boundaries of the Park, and the compliments received from both the Region of Tuscany and the Italian Parks Federation, sponsors of the Festival, are a great source of encouragement and make us want to do better.

The entire programme can be seen on line on the Park’s official website: just click on the Walking festival banner in the left hand column of the home page. If you wish, you can also follow the Facebook page, or enter your name on the newsletter of this web site, so you can be kept up to date with all the latest details and information concerning the programme.

If you want to fully appreciate the Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, and enjoy their natural beauty in complete relaxation, the best time to come is either in spring or in autumn, when the hustle and bustle of the summer tourists is only a distant memory.