Elba Ovest Bike Land - San Giovanni Parish church

Departure / Arrival: Sant'Ilario
Length: 8 km
Technical difficulty: medium / easy
Difference in altitude: 230 m
Max uphill slope 19%
Max downhill slope 21%
Average uphill slope 11%br />Average downhill slope 15%

This route takes its name from the San Giovanni Parish church that you see practically at the start of the route.

Start off from the hamlet of Sant'Ilario and follow the main road for San Piero. Approximately 1 km further along the road starts to climb so keep going uphill in the direction of Monte Perone for 2 km until you get to the Church of San Giovanni.

Once you reach the large church take the path to your left surrounded by a chestnut wood. This first part of the route is slightly downhill along a dirt track that at times becomes more technical because there are granite rocks at the sides. Once you have crossed the chestnut wood you will come to a pine wood with a crossroads and here go straight on.

From here on the surrounding vegetation changes somewhat, and becomes more shrub like that is rich in bracken. As you continue along the route you will soon get to a small ditch that in order to cross you will have to cycle between two granite rocks.

The panorama that opens up before you is absolutely breathtaking: on one side you have the southern coast of Elba with the football pitch in San Piero in the foreground, while on the horizon you can see the marvelous gulf of Marina di Campo, the airport and the Capo di Fonza promontory as far as Monte Calamita.

The trail starts to go downhill along an ancient, granite-chip road that in the past led to the ancient quarries.

Once at the top of the granite quarry known as the Cavone turn left along a very scenic and short route that ia also quite steep downhill.

Keep going and bypass a goat farm and go as far as the road that leads to San Piero. At this point you can head back towards Sant'Ilario.