Extracurricular activities

Visit to Napoleon’s two residences and to the old town of Portoferraio: after visiting Villa San Martino, we arrive in Portoferraio, the chief town and major port of the island, and continue our walk through the narrow streets of the town, which is still surrounded by strong walls which had been built in the 16th century on the orders of Cosimo I of the Medici as protection against frequent pirate attacks.
After reaching the top of the old city we will visit the Palazzina dei Mulini, Napoleon’s main residence during his exile on Elba, with a startling view of the bay and open sea.

The coasts of Elba are ideal for every kind of underwater sport.

Particularly suitable is the southern coast as the different depths of the water and the many reefs make diving more interesting than on the northern coast where the reefs drop steeply. While studying Italian with us, you may also earn a certificate at one of Elba’s many diving schools (also english-speaking) equipped with filling stations for diving equipment.

Anyone who visits Elba always wonders how its characteristics change curve after curve. Elba is an excellent place for relaxing walks or for a little more demanding trekking. Among the most suggestive paths we point out the Carmignani Promenade which is located right in Porto Azzurro. You will find yourself walking beside a 17th-century fortress and with the sea overhanging on the other side. A beautiful view from Capo Perla reaches the Straccoligno beach, including the promontory of the Costa dei Gabbiani. And then the famous “GTE”, the Great Elban Crossing, where starting from the north-eastern end you get to the west coast (or vice versa).

Bicycles are the best way to get to know and explore the island of Elba. The island is plenty of beautiful paths and not for nothing it is called “biker paradise island “.The main feature is that it has both routes for beginners and experts. Every year, a world-wide competition called “Legend Cup” is held on the Island of Elba, where you can try the splendid paths (available 365 days a year) of Monte Calamita open to everyone. You can easily find maps showing the paths around the island. Each path has a different color based on the difficulty. If you don’t have a bicycle you can rent one in Porto Azzurro or in the nearby village of Capoliveri.

The Elba Golf Club Acquabona is the first golf course built on an Italian island. It is a very scenic hilly path halfway between Portoferraio and Porto Azzurro, near the Lacona crossroad, in a very beautiful environmental context. The course consists of nine holes with double starts and measures 5,144 meters with a par of 68 in 18 holes. We recommend playing on Saturdays and Sundays as promotions are available.

Elba’s sailing schools offer many courses in windsurfing and sailing. Experienced windsurfers may rent boards and experienced sailors boats to enjoy Elba’s beautiful sites from offshore.

Our school is in contact with the Centro Velico Naregno which offers the convenient service of picking you up at the port of Porto Azzurro and bring you directly to the beach of Naregno where adults and children can attend their sailing and windsurfing courses.

In Porto Azzurro there is the Asd Tennis Club Porto Azzurro with three courts, one of which is in synthetic grass and two in clay. In addition to the normal games, very fun tournaments are often organized. Within this association there is also a bar, restaurant and fitness studio.

In and near Porto Azzurro there are many riding schools where you can have riding lessons or go on excursions on horseback.

The A.S.D. Bosana Costa dei Gabbiani located in the nearby town of Capoliveri, offers equestrian activities for everyone: riding lessons, horseback riding for beginners and more experienced riders, trekking. For the little ones, however, two ponies are available that will allow them to get closer to the horse and learn through games. Among the magnificent experiences you can try there is also an evening horseback ride with night swim (organized every Friday evening) and outputs on Mount Calamita with a trip to the mines and a walk at sunset.

The thermal bath San Giovanni uses a silt with high therapeutic potential, unique in the Italian and European thermal panorama. Thalassotherapy is practiced at “Terme San Giovanni” in which the value of the sea, with its algae and marine plants, turn into a mud with precious benefits. From this practice was also born a line of natural cosmetics and high quality eco certified organic products.