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Capraia Island boasts an array of panoramic paths and ancient roads to discover. Trekking in Capraia is one of the best ways to admire and visit this enchanting island's unspoilt nature and wild beauty.
The "lost" path of Zenobito
One of the oldest roads in Capraia that led to the Torre dello Zenobito and that was probably made for the tower's construction in 1545. Leaving from the Piana, the path takes 3 hours to complete and because of its difficulty, it is recommended that it be trekked early in the morning. You will find the beginning of the path after a few metres on the right, where the fence of the Azienda Agricola della Piana ends. Here you will walk along the eastern side of Capraia Island.
Once you reach the first ridge, you'll see the Torre Zenobito in the distance. Follow the path and pass Carbicina, Capo, Scoglione, Porcili and Turco. After this, a series of up and down climbs will give you great views onto the eastern coast of Capraia. The path then merges with an older path, called Arpagna, allowing you to walk a good part of the island.
L'Aghiale - Punta del Dattero
This is a path made of panoramic hairpin bends that overlook the bay and the port of the town. It leads to the northern part of the island that was occupied until 1986 by a penal colony. You will pass several areas: the "Aghiale" that contained the prison cells, the cafeteria and the apartments for the guards, the stables, and hen house in the area of Portovecchio, l’Ovile, the Large Gardens: here there is also a valley that boasts centuries-old, monumental walls. The views from the island are interesting from a naturalistic point of view, but are also characterized by the mystery and solitude that these now abandoned buildings evoke. In the final "section" of the jail, called Mortola, visitors can walk along a path that leads to the Punta del Dattero ('Dattero Point'). From the high rocky cliffs overlooking the sea, visitors can see the island of Corsica, an array of seagulls, bushes of wild rosemary and mint and sometimes moufflons. The best time to enjoy this view is at sunset, on June 21, also the summer solstice and the most beautiful day of the year.
Monte Arpagna - Punta del Trattoio
The ancient stone multitrack leads to two ancient military edifices: "Alloggio del Capo ", which today is a pile of ruins, and the "Alloggio dei Marinai". In front of the road is the iron edifice, called "Semaforo", located on top of Monte Arpagna. It was once used as a lookout point by the military.
From Arpagna, the views are splendid: the robust Zenobito Tower (1545), made entirely from laic material found in the area. From here, you can also see the outline of Monte Capanne on Elba Island. A rather high section of Mediterranean scrub leads to the Trattoio Lighthouse, where visitors can admire the wild western coast of the island, the small islet of Peraiola, and the grottos of Cala del Vetriolo. From this point, you can also reach the seaside at Cala delle Cote.
Read also: Capraia Island - wonderful beaches in Tuscany
The "lost" path of Zenobito
One of the oldest roads in Capraia that led to the Torre dello Zenobito and that was probably made for the tower's construction in 1545. Leaving from the Piana, the path takes 3 hours to complete and because of its difficulty, it is recommended that it be trekked early in the morning. You will find the beginning of the path after a few metres on the right, where the fence of the Azienda Agricola della Piana ends. Here you will walk along the eastern side of Capraia Island.
Once you reach the first ridge, you'll see the Torre Zenobito in the distance. Follow the path and pass Carbicina, Capo, Scoglione, Porcili and Turco. After this, a series of up and down climbs will give you great views onto the eastern coast of Capraia. The path then merges with an older path, called Arpagna, allowing you to walk a good part of the island.
L'Aghiale - Punta del Dattero
This is a path made of panoramic hairpin bends that overlook the bay and the port of the town. It leads to the northern part of the island that was occupied until 1986 by a penal colony. You will pass several areas: the "Aghiale" that contained the prison cells, the cafeteria and the apartments for the guards, the stables, and hen house in the area of Portovecchio, l’Ovile, the Large Gardens: here there is also a valley that boasts centuries-old, monumental walls. The views from the island are interesting from a naturalistic point of view, but are also characterized by the mystery and solitude that these now abandoned buildings evoke. In the final "section" of the jail, called Mortola, visitors can walk along a path that leads to the Punta del Dattero ('Dattero Point'). From the high rocky cliffs overlooking the sea, visitors can see the island of Corsica, an array of seagulls, bushes of wild rosemary and mint and sometimes moufflons. The best time to enjoy this view is at sunset, on June 21, also the summer solstice and the most beautiful day of the year.
Monte Arpagna - Punta del Trattoio
The ancient stone multitrack leads to two ancient military edifices: "Alloggio del Capo ", which today is a pile of ruins, and the "Alloggio dei Marinai". In front of the road is the iron edifice, called "Semaforo", located on top of Monte Arpagna. It was once used as a lookout point by the military.
From Arpagna, the views are splendid: the robust Zenobito Tower (1545), made entirely from laic material found in the area. From here, you can also see the outline of Monte Capanne on Elba Island. A rather high section of Mediterranean scrub leads to the Trattoio Lighthouse, where visitors can admire the wild western coast of the island, the small islet of Peraiola, and the grottos of Cala del Vetriolo. From this point, you can also reach the seaside at Cala delle Cote.
Read also: Capraia Island - wonderful beaches in Tuscany
