From north to south - Trekking excursion on the Island of Elba

Distance: 10.72 km;
Average time: 5.25 hours;
Difficulty: level E (hiking);
Elevation difference: 647 m;
Total ascent: 383 m;
Total descent: 754 m;

The trail n. 103 is the main route in the Monte Capanne area. It connects the northern and southern slopes, from Marciana to Chiessi, linking up with the trails: n. 157, n. 110, n. 113, GTE, which it coincides with for a long stretch, n. 177, n. 125, and n. 104.

In the past, this path was used daily by the local population to reach the main villages of western Elba: Marciana, Poggio, Chiessi, and Pomonte.

The first stretch, which connects Marciana to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Monte, is part of the island's religious tradition and represents a path used by generations of Elbans for their classic Sunday excursions.

Along the way, there are the stations of the Via Crucis and the forecourt of the church of Madonna del Monte, an exedra from the late 1600s where pure water flows in all seasons. A stop at this sacred place, and then you continue on trail n. 103. After about 100 meters, you can take a right turn to visit some of the Monsters of Stone: shapes carved in granite by the action of wind, water, and salt air.

Staying on trail n. 103, at the same altitude of about 625 m, within the beautiful Mediterranean scrub, you reach the Serraventosa area, where, near the junction with the GTE, you can observe several stone pens.

Along the way, vast landscapes of sea and land open up. On clear days, you can see Capraia and Corsica very clearly. Large erratic granite boulders suspended in impossible balances frame this rugged and varied nature. In some stretches, ancient chestnut groves alternate with the low bushes of the fragrant garrigue.

Briefly, the trail starts to descend moderately, intersecting the Bollero springs before gaining altitude again while passing through a slope covered by a thicket of dense, twisted shrubs, leading to Troppolo (748 m) and the junction with trail n. 125, which leads to the Semaforo di Campo alle Serre.

Returning to the main trail, you begin to see the southern slope of the island, while in the distance, the profiles of Pianosa and, further left, Montecristo come into view. After about 1 hour of walking, you reach the junction with trail n. 104 and, shortly after, with trail 103 A; from here, in just a few minutes, you can reach the ruins of the Church of San Bartolomeo. Although only the remains of the perimeter walls and the ruin of one side remain, the atmosphere of the place expresses an essential and primitive religiosity, as the life of the people who frequented it must have been.

To reach Chiessi, another 1 hour and 30 minutes of walking is needed on the steep path among ancient terraces and struggling small vegetable gardens.