Bike Tour of the Historic Cosmopolis and its White Beaches

The Torre del Martello or Torre della Linguella, immediately recognizable at the entrance to the port of Portoferraio due to its octagonal shape, owes its construction to the early sixteenth century by the Medici, lords of Portoferraio. It is a supreme example of military architecture in defense of the port.

Portoferraio, the capital of the Island of Elba, is a city of ancient origins, which still retains its Renaissance charm today. The capital and main port of the island, Portoferraio has just under 12,000 inhabitants. City of ancient origins and known as Porto Argo in mythological narratives, since the Etruscan-Roman era it has been called Fabricia in reference to the ancient iron and steel works present in the area.

Forte Falcone together with Forte Stella and Torre della Linguella represents one of the three supporting columns of the defensive system of the city of Portoferraio. Forte Falcone, with its 2360 square meters, represents, together with Forte Stella and the Torre della Linguella, one of the three "supporting columns" of the defensive system of the city of Cosmopoli (name given by Cosimo I in Portoferraio). Conceived by Giovan Battista Belluci of San Marino and later directed in its construction by Giovanni Camerini, it was erected in 1548. Located on the highest hill of Portoferraio (79 m a.s.l.) it is characterized by a very imposing irregular structure.

Le Viste is a beach close to the historic center of Portoferraio, dominated by the ancient Medici walls. Le Viste is a beautiful beach located in the immediate vicinity of the historic center of Portoferraio. It is located near the Villa dei Mulini, Napoleon's winter residence, and is dominated by the majestic fortress of Forte Falcone.

Located on the north coast of the Island of Elba, the Capo Enfola peninsula is characterized by a thin isthmus of land (just 70 meters wide) that connects Monte Enfola (135 m) with the rest of the island, creating one of the most suggestive Elban peninsulas and giving rise to two beaches: one opposite the other. The north-facing beach is the least welcoming. Small in size and made up of uncomfortable stones, it is almost entirely used as storage for the small boats of local fishermen. The other beach, the only one on the northern side facing south, towards the Gulf of Viticcio, is the most welcoming and sheltered. 150 meters long, it is made up of medium-fine gray pebbles and divided by a small landing pier, whose docking is only allowed for boarding-disembarking maneuvers, and a buoy field managed by the Amici dell'Enfola Association. The pier is also used by children and teenagers who enjoy diving.

From the car park in front of the headquarters of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (one of the old Tonnare of the Island of Elba). The Enfola promontory is one of the most evocative places on the island, falling within the territory of the National Park. The peculiarity of this place is given by the fact that the promontory of Capo Enfola is joined to the rest of the island by a narrow isthmus of land and that here there are various historical testimonies dating back to the Second World War. The tour starts from the road on the right of the Park headquarters that climbs with wide hairpin bends on the side of the hill. Along the climb it is possible to see some war ruins, the remains of an imposing defensive system dating back to the Second World War, alternating with surprising panoramic views: to the west on the Gulf of Viticcio up to Sant'Andrea and to the east on the white beaches of Portoferraio, the canal of Piombino and the continent.

Le Ghiaie is one of the most beautiful beaches in Portoferraio, with small and comfortable smooth white pebbles. It is a biological protection area, ideal for diving. Very close to the historic center of Portoferraio, the Ghiaie beach is famous for the incomparable beauty of its seabed and white pebbles smoothed by the sea, stained, according to a legend, by the drops of sweat of the Argonauts.

Leaving Portoferraio and continuing towards Procchio, in the locality of Capannone, one cannot fail to notice one of the most fascinating and famous gulfs of Elba: that of Biodola. The beach is characterized by a natural amphitheater consisting of the reliefs of Serone delle Cime, Capannone and Colle Pecorara richly covered by a dense coppice and Mediterranean scrub, which is matched by the view of Monte Perone and Capanne (1019 m) on the sea. Its position exposes it to north-west winds while it is protected from south winds.

Return to the Country E-bike Rent headquarters in via Val Carene Portoferraio.

The military structures of the Capo Enfola peninsula were built in the period between the two world wars, as part of the "Coastal Defense" plan that affected all of Italy between 1935 and 1938. The coastal battery was built to control the stretch of water that separates Elba from the Tuscan coast from Corsica. It was manned by about 200 men and equipped with four cannons with a range capable of covering a firing area that overlapped the twin post at the tip of the Falcone in Piombino. To make the anti-aircraft parts usable even at night, powerful photelectric projectors were used capable of illuminating the sea in front and the Piombino canal during the day. Furthermore, aerial systems and telemetry turrets were used to target large-caliber artillery pieces.