Patresi, Island of Elba

This small locality is located on the western coast of the Island of Elba, between the villages of Sant'Andrea and Chiessi.

Like the other tourist districts in this area, Patresi has over the years increasingly embraced tourism, while preserving as much as possible the original features of the landscape, which were shaped by agricultural activities that once characterized the area. Some terraced fields from this period still remain as evidence.

Curiosity: The name Patresi, once "Li Patresi", probably comes from the Latin "petrenses", meaning stony places.

The nature surrounding the village is one of the features that make Patresi a beautiful holiday destination for those looking to spend a vacation focused on sports.

From the Patresi valley, numerous trails start that can be explored on foot or by mountain bike; descending towards the coast, the sea beds offer opportunities for all diving enthusiasts to explore a beautiful, fish-rich sea!

One of the most scenic sights is the Punta Polveraia Lighthouse, located in a panoramic position on the cliffs of the same name, which drop steeply into the sea. The original 1831 project aimed to create a small military outpost, but it was expanded in 1909 when the maritime lighthouse was built to illuminate the western coastal stretch of the Island of Elba and the Corsica Channel. The building, constructed directly on the rock, is a simple architectural structure topped with an octagonal tower and a lantern.

The surrounding environment is characterized by the colors and scents of the Mediterranean scrub: pines, junipers, phillyrea, rosemary, cistus, and mastic trees, as well as numerous succulents likely planted for ornamental purposes by the lighthouse keepers who have taken turns guarding the lighthouse.

Curiosity: In 2016, the lighthouse was put up for competition in the "Valore Paese" call, created to recover and enhance Italy's "sea jewels": lighthouses, towers, and coastal buildings. Many offers were received, but the lighthouse restoration project has been halted following numerous complaints from environmental associations, and the project's alignment with the Tuscany Region's Landscape Plan is currently under review.

Less than a kilometer from the provincial road, you can reach the Patresi beach and Punta Polveraia beach. Made of gravel and not very crowded even during the summer, they offer peace and a sparkling, clear sea.

Patresi has only a few services, mainly accommodation facilities, but nearby are the villages of La Zanca and especially Sant'Andrea, where there are many more commercial establishments.

Curiosity: Patresi is called the "village of the sun" or "sun's bride" because from Mount della Guardia in July, you can see both the sunrise and the sunset.