Trekking along the Enfola Loop

To reach Enfola from Portoferraio, follow the signs for Enfola-Viticcio and leave your car in the car park opposite the headquarters of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (one of the old tuna fisheries of Isola d'Elba).

The Enfola promontory is one of the most evocative places on the island, located within the National Park. The special feature of this place is that the Capo Enfola promontory is joined to the rest of the island by a narrow strip of land and that there are several historical traces here dating back to the Second World War. 

The route starts from the road to the right of the Park headquarters, which climbs with wide hairpin bends along the side of the hill.

Along the ascent, you can glimpse some wartime ruins, remains of an imposing defensive system dating back to the Second World War, alternating with surprising panoramic views. To the west you can see the gulf of Viticcio and the whole stretch of Elba's northern coast as far as Sant'Andrea, while to the east there are views over the white beaches of Portoferraio, the Piombino Channel and the mainland.

Capo Enfola is the realm of Mediterranean scrub, which, especially in spring, is covered with fragrant, brightly coloured little flowers.

Almost at the top of the promontory, on the right, there is the entrance to a tunnel, also part of the remains of the Second World War fortifications.

This tunnel, which runs into the ground for a few dozen metres, is not lit, so to visit it you need to bring a small torch or even just the light from a mobile phone.

On leaving the tunnel, you can continue again along the main trail, heading to the right. After a few metres, again on the right, there is another fortification dating back to the World War, which can also be visited.

Continuing along the route, you reach a fork with signs to descend to Capo d'Enfola and continue as far as La Nave, the rock that lies just offshore from the tip of the promontory.

Taking this detour, you can descend towards the cliffs overlooking the sea, which provide a natural shelter for the nesting of seabirds: in particular European shags and one of the largest colonies of yellow-legged gulls on Elba. It is good practice not to disturb them too much, especially during the nesting period (from March to July), but to observe them respectfully from a distance, also because gulls are very aggressive during the brooding period.

Here, in the distance, the view stretches from Monte Capanne, with the village of Marciana Marina below, to the island of Capraia almost opposite, as far as Portoferraio and the north coast of Elba as far as Cavo.

Retracing your steps to the previous junction, continue following the sign for the Enfola Loop, which allows you to complete the route by descending again to the car park and the Park headquarters.

The uphill section is almost entirely in the sun, before becoming partial shade/shade until the loop rejoins the main trail. The detour leading to the sea viewpoint is, on the other hand, entirely in the sun.