Trekking along the Enfola ring

Starting point / End point: Enfola
Average time: 1.10 hours
Distance: about 5 km
Difficulty: medium-easy
Elevation gain: 243 m
Trail: no. 208
Points of interest: Enfola Coastal Battery
Recommended detours: Scoglio della Nave

To reach Enfola from Portoferraio, follow the Enfola-Viticcio signs and leave your car in the parking lot in front of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park office (one of the old Tonnare of the Island of Elba).

The Enfola promontory is one of the most scenic spots on the island, located within the territory of the National Park. The uniqueness of this place lies in the fact that the Capo Enfola promontory is connected to the rest of the island by a narrow isthmus of land and that there are several historical traces dating back to the Second World War.

The tour begins from the road on the right of the Park office, which ascends with wide switchbacks along the side of the hill.

Along the ascent, you can spot some wartime ruins, remnants of an imposing defensive system from the Second World War, interspersed with surprising scenic viewpoints. To the west, you can see the Gulf of Viticcio and the entire northern coastline of Elba up to Sant'Andrea, and to the east, the white beaches of Portoferraio, the Piombino Channel, and the mainland.

Capo Enfola is the kingdom of Mediterranean scrub, which, especially in spring, is covered with fragrant, brightly colored flowers.

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

This tunnel, which extends into the ground for a few dozen meters, is unlit, so to visit it, you will need a small flashlight or even just the light from a mobile phone.

Exiting the tunnel, you can continue along the main trail by heading right. After a few meters, there is another fortification on the right, also dating from the World War and accessible for visiting.

Continuing the trail, you reach a fork with a sign indicating a path down to Capo d'Enfola and the chance to reach La Nave, the rock located just off the tip of the promontory.

Taking this detour, you can descend to the cliffs overlooking the sea which offer a natural refuge for seabird nesting: particularly, crested cormorants 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, as gulls can be very aggressive during the breeding season.

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

Returning to the previous fork, continue following the signs for the Enfola Loop, which will take you to complete the tour by descending back to the parking lot and the Park office.

The uphill path is mostly in the sun, then becomes partially shaded/shaded until the loop reconnects with the main trail. The detour to the sea-view point, however, is entirely in the sun.