• Getting about

    Getting about

    Back
    • Rentals
    • Taxi services
    • Bus services
    • Park areas
  • Stays
  • Eat
  • Sea

    Sea

    Back
    • Beaches
    • Bathing establishments
    • Diving centers
    • Sailing
  • Guided excursions
  • Sports
  • Places to see
  • Special offers
  • Last minute offers
  • Ferries
Infoelba
  • Get to Elba
    • How to get there Getting to the Island of Elba
    • Ferries The shipping companies that connect the island
    • Getting about on the island Public transport and taxis
    • Hire Car, motorbike and boat hire/rental
  • Stay
    • Accommodation that is open all year round Elba: a destination for all seasons
    • Hotels Hotels to meet all needs
    • Residences For an independent holiday
    • Bed & Breakfasts Always ready to discover the island
    • Apartments Feeling at home in Elba
    • Small villas and detached houses For an autonomous holiday
    • Villas Surrounded by luxury and relaxation
    • Farm holiday centres Nature and flavours everywhere
    • Campsites Socializing and having a good time surrounded by nature
    • Camper and caravan Parking, water tank and facility areas
    • Farm holiday campsites An open air holiday
    • Luxury accommodation For a dream vacation
    • Tourist agencies and realtors Let your holiday be organised for you
  • Eat
    • Restaurants and Pizzerias Typical sea, home or more refined cuisine
    • Food & Wine Experience Experiences of gastronomy and wine tasting
    • Local recipes The best dishes of the Elba cuisine
    • Wines Aleatico, Moscato and Ansonica: Elba wines
    • Herbs and typical products Honey, beer, oil, wild and aromatic plants
    • Typical dishes History and origins of Elba dishes
  • Useful information
    • Useful phone numbers and addresses Public and emergency utilities
    • Weather Temperatures and weather forecast
    • Webcams A window always open on the Elbe
    • Apps for your smartphone Elba on your mobile
  • Visit Elba
    • Beaches and coasts A different beach each day
    • Places to see Museums, ancient monuments, breathtaking views
    • Tuscan Archipelago National Park Seven pearls rising up from the sea
    • Guided excursions Letting others take you round the island
    • Useful advice What to do if...
    • Maps of the Island of Elba The Island in the palm of your hand
    • I am... Elba just as it suits you
    • Recommended itineraries What can we go and see today?
  • Sports and free time
    • Water sports Scuba diving, going snorkelling, fishing, sailing
    • Land sports Cycling, trekking, free climbing!
    • Elba not to be missed The unmissable experiences to do on holiday
    • Outdoor sports Elba: A paradise for lovers of outdoor sports
    • Enjoyment and relaxation Night life, cinemas and much more
    • Courses and study trips Learn while you have fun
    • Shopping Scents, colors and flavors of Elba
    • Special events and exhibitions What shall we do this evening?
  • Discovering Elba
    • Elba in winter The ideal place for a wonderful holiday all year round
    • Paths and tracksin Elba 1000 paths to live the island to the full
    • Gerring married on the Island of Elba Dreamlike weddings on the Tuscan island
    • How many beaches are there in Elba? 126 beaches of 1000 colours
    • History of Elba Historical notes concerning Elba and its origins
    • Geology of Elba Geological origins of the Island of Elba
    • Towns of Elba Administration of Elba and its eight Communes
    • Interesting facts A different Elba
    • Media Gallery Live and feel Elba through photographs
  • Webcams
Infoelba - Dove natura è vacanza
  • 0

The eagles' nests - Trekking excursion on the Island of Elba

  • Looking for accommodation
  • Accommodation price and availability
  • Last minute booking
  • Offers
  • Ferry tickets
  • Real estate ads
  1. Island of Elba
  2. Sports and free time
  3. Land sports
  4. Trekking
  5. Paths and trails
  6. The eagles' nests

Walk along the slopes of Volterraio and Monte Castello

Starting point: Rio nell'Elba (178 m above sea level);
End point: Rio nell'Elba;
Distance: 12.8 km;
Difficulty level: medium;
Elevation gain: 610 m;
Terrain type: 5.2 km asphalt and 7.6 km dirt road;
Interest: historical, archaeological, and panoramic.

From the square of Rio nell'Elba, a quick road initially crossing the town takes us shortly to the locality of Le Panche (327 m., a small area with picnic tables), where we join a very scenic paved road leading, in about 2 km, to the slopes of the Volterraio. Here, an uphill path, cut through the Mediterranean scrub and then onto the bare rock, reaches (about 40 minutes) the majestic castle (394 m.) built in the Pisan era to protect the eastern populations from frequent pirate attacks.

A lookout post against sea assaults and a refuge in case of an attack, the Volterraio Castle is perfectly integrated with the steep rock beneath and dominates the northern slope of the island. Upon reaching the top, we discover that time has left indelible marks, yet the charm of this fortress remains intact: the surrounding walls, the access staircase to the drawbridge, the walkway with the guardhouse, the square tower, rooms and vaults, the remains of an oven, wells and cisterns, storage areas, and underground passages, battlements and loopholes.

The trail takes us back to the paved road, which we follow for about 4 km (left fork) until reaching the charming Romanesque church of Santo Stefano alle Trane, dating from the 12th century. Passing alongside the old lime kilns, we climb a small path up to the main trail, which continues along the ridge, connecting the peaks of the eastern slope.

We head north, along the ridge, with an extraordinary panorama that stretches across the Portoferraio Gulf, the agricultural plain of Magazzini, and to the south, Porto Azzurro and the eastern part of Monte Calamita.

Upon reaching Monte Castello (390 m.), which overlooks the silent valley of Monserrato and the charming sanctuary dedicated to the Spanish Madonna, we continue on to Cima del Monte, with a breathtaking 360° view of Rio Elba, the mines, abandoned shipyards, the Torre del Giogo, the imposing Volterraio, the Barbarossa beach, and Porto Azzurro.

The descent, steep and fast, takes us back to Le Panche and the tranquility of Rio nell'Elba.

Request a free quote 0 My choice

You might also like...

Paths and trails

Further reading

Rio nell'ElbaVolterraio CastleChurch of Santo Stefano alle TraneMonserrato SanctuaryFortress of Giogo

Go now to...

Track mapsMap of water dispensersPath classificationSignposts of the routesExcursions in safety
  • Get to Elba
  • How to get there
  • Ferries
  • Getting about on the island
  • Hire
  • Stay
  • Accommodation that is open all year round
  • Hotels
  • Residences
  • Bed & Breakfasts
  • Apartments
  • Small villas and detached houses
  • Villas
  • Farm holiday centres
  • Campsites
  • Camper and caravan
  • Farm holiday campsites
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Tourist agencies and realtors
  • Eat
  • Restaurants and Pizzerias
  • Food & Wine Experience
  • Local recipes
  • Wines
  • Herbs and typical products
  • Typical dishes
  • Useful information
  • Useful phone numbers and addresses
  • Weather
  • Webcams
  • Apps for your smartphone
  • Visit Elba
  • Beaches and coasts
  • Places to see
  • Tuscan Archipelago National Park
  • Guided excursions
  • Useful advice
  • Maps of the Island of Elba
  • I am...
  • Recommended itineraries
  • Sports and free time
  • Water sports
  • Land sports
  • Elba not to be missed
  • Outdoor sports
  • Enjoyment and relaxation
  • Courses and study trips
  • Shopping
  • Special events and exhibitions
  • Discovering Elba
  • Elba in winter
  • Paths and tracksin Elba
  • Gerring married on the Island of Elba
  • How many beaches are there in Elba?
  • History of Elba
  • Geology of Elba
  • Towns of Elba
  • Interesting facts
  • Media Gallery
  • Webcams

Infoelba non si assume alcuna responsabilità per l'uso di marchi e slogan usati dagli inserzionisti e per eventuali errate indicazioni.

Informa inoltre che i listini prezzi, orari, date o altro materiale informativo pubblicato su questo sito è suscettibile a variazioni.

:: Siete quindi invitati a chiedere conferma alle strutture interessate ::

Infoelba

©1999-2025 Infoelba s.r.l. Unipersonale - Viale Teseo Tesei, 12 - Centro Servizi Il Molino - 57037 Portoferraio (LI)

P. IVA e C.F. 01130150491 - capitale sociale €10.000,00 i.v. - registro imprese numero 01130150491 - REA: LI - 100635

infoelba® it is a registered trademark - all rights reserved - Accesso all'area riservata