Second Stage of the GTE

The second stage of the GTE is wider, smoother and faster. It follows the central ridge of the Isola d’Elba through woods, countryside and cultivated areas.

After leaving Porto Azzurro, the route climbs up the Botro valley to Capo Galletti, then crosses over into the Buraccio valley, characterised by olive groves and vineyards, until it intersects the provincial road to Porto Azzurro and reaches the vineyards of Casa Marchetti at Campo ai Peri.

From here, the route climbs surrounded by fragrant rosemary and broom plants towards Monte Orello (377 m). The pinewoods around the summit partly block the view, but it is still possible to admire a beautiful glimpse of Portoferraio.

Descending from Monte Orello, after passing a horse-riding centre, turn left onto an old, wide military road that runs along the hillside, shaded by tall Mediterranean scrub with a few scattered houses around.

After about ten minutes, a short detour leads to the spring of Fonte agli Schiumoli, the only water supply point along the GTE, where it is possible to drink (coordinates 42.78486, 10.32047).

About 100 m after the spring, another short detour to the left allows you to visit an old kiln. Once you reach the pass of Colle Reciso, overlooked by a large limestone quarry, follow the signs for Lacona at the road junction.

At the end of the short climb, the first road on the right leads to Colle di Santa Lucia in about 30 minutes.

Today’s Church of Santa Lucia and the hermitage were for years a place of pilgrimage and lodging for hermits and, in more recent years, the destination of the traditional Portoferraio procession on Ascension Day. It seems that the ancient village of Montemarsale and the Fortress of Lucéri once stood on this hill, both destroyed by the pirate Barbarossa.

Returning to the road for Lacona, the next dirt road, again on the right, allows you to rejoin the GTE. The route continues along a wide road, almost always shaded by vegetation made up of holm oaks, strawberry trees and heather. Along the entire route there are old ammunition depots from the Second World War.

Shortly before reaching Poggio del Molino a Vento (288 metres), an unmarked but visible detour leads to the ruins of the ancient windmill overlooking the Gulf of Lacona.

The old, imposing ruins of the mill stand guard over the island’s two sides: to the north, the Gulf of Portoferraio, and to the south, the Gulf of Lacona and Capo Stella. About 100 m west of the mill, there is a stone boundary marker, carved with a Maltese cross, placed in 1579 to mark the border between Medici Cosmopoli and the rest of the island, which belonged to the Principality of Piombino. To reach it, after the clearing you need to pass beside a pool of water and enter the scrub, following a faint arrow.

Returning to the GTE route, the trail continues at the same elevation. From here onwards, several variants open up, one of which leads to San Martino and then to the Napoleonic villa, while another further on branches off towards the Monumento, allowing you to explore the trail network of the Fonza promontory.

Following the GTE signs, instead, you descend along a trail through the Mediterranean scrub until you reach some ruins of old farmhouses beneath a pinewood and, following the signs, an area with many local roads and scattered houses. Finally, it is easy to reach provincial road no. 25, a few hundred metres from Procchio.

GTE map: Porto Azzurro - Procchio