First Stop in the GTE

Departure: Cavo
Arrival: Porto Azzurro
Length of route: 18,5 km
Height above sea level: 496 m

The starting point of the route of the GTE is in the town of Cavo, the most northern town on the island as well as the nearest to the mainland and you start by going upwards in the direction of Monte Grosso along a path surrounded by bushes of cistus and rosemary.

At the top of Monte Grosso, 344 metres above sea level, you will see "Il Semaforo", once an important military watch tower, and from here the view is breathtaking: to the east you have the town of Cavo, the three tiny islands between Elba and the mainland: Topi, Palmaiola and Cerboli and, across the sea in Piombino, the coastline of the mainland: to the west you can see the whole northern coast of Elba.

From here you head downwards until the main road in Parata, alongside the Vignolo ditch that goes up and down in a very pleasant area in the shade, then you cross the valley of Le Fiche and you will get to an area known as Aia di Cacio; here the path leads to the road for Nisporto and Nisportino.

Cross the road and you will find yourself back on the path: go up a stony, steep road and you will then get to Monte Strega (427 m above sea level), Passo della Croce (342 m), right above the town of Rio nell'Elba, and finally to Monte Capannello (408 m); from the beautiful observation point here you can admire the two sides (east and west) of the island at the same time.

Just a few metres further down the path leads to the Panche pinewood and here you start to go upwards to the highest summit in your day: Cima del Monte, 502 metres above sea level. Once you reach the top, a breathtaking panorama awaits you: all of the eastern side of Elba and above all the Castle of Volterraio and the bay of Portoferraio.

A little further down and you will come across the junction with first, the path number 220 and then the path number 205 (more suited to expert excursionists) that leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monserrato. Keep going along the GTE and approximately 15,5 km from the departure point you will get to the junction with the number 210 path that bypasses vineyards and in about 30 minutes you will reach Porto Azzurro.

View here the first stop of the GTE from Cavo to Porto Azzurro »