Extracurricular activities
cultural lessons, excursions and dinners
The Italian language course at our school is enriched by additional activities in the afternoon: the ABC ELBA school gives much importance to these activities, in fact all the courses include at least two activities per week.
The school ABC ELBA organizes activities such as seminars on Italian culture, films, guided tours, beach excursions and visits to vineyards, where you can taste and buy the famous wines of Elba.
All those who want, can further exercise their Italian with lessons conducted to improve understanding, grammar, phonetics of the language or participate in informative lectures about the Island of Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago, supported by videos and photos, all in Italian language.
Italian culture courses and cooking lessons
Elba and the other islands of the Tuscan archipelago; Elba’s history, traditions and curiosities; Elba and its cuisine, with practical lessons and preparation of some typical dishes of Elba and its region; reading and listening adapted to any language level; outline of Italian contemporary literature.
Besides all this, there are excursions to discover the area and the wonderful sea of the island and dinners in a Pizzeria or Restaurant together with the teachers.
Each week there is a program of optional, cultural and recreational activities which will allow you to enjoy and appreciate, in the best possible way your study holiday on the Island of Elba.
Those who want to take a course with the possibility to choose up to five activities per week, can choose our course CLUB 30+.
Guided tours to characteristic villages
Discovering their history, traditions and curiosities and tasting some typical products, such as the “schiaccia briaca”, a delicious cake topped with pine nuts, raisins and dried fruit, and mixed with the Aleatico wine that gives the red colour and particular taste.
Tours to Elba’s vineyards
Over the 20th century, Elba’s wine production was reinvigorated thanks to farmers who invested in the activity, leading to the rebirth of many wineries, included small ones. Over a relatively short period, thanks to modern technologies and the guidance of wine experts, they succeeded in producing wine of the best quality, both with traditional, native grapes of the island like Ansonica and Procanico, but also with the introduction of new ones. During our tour, we will visit several wineries and taste red and white table wines, dessert wines and the famous Aleatico, a sweet red wine produced exclusively on Elba.
Napoleon’s itinerary
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.
Walking and Hiking
In collaboration with the official guides of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago. Only a few kilometers away from the school, in the village of Rio dell’Elba is one of the Park Houses, starting point for the historical and nature walking tours, which take place every Friday afternoon to discover the landscape, flora and wonderful views.







What they say about us…
Wie schon im letzten Jahr war ich absolut begeistert von meinem Sprachkurs bei ABC Elba.
Im Gegensatz zum letzten Jahr (wo ich in der letzten Woche allein war und Einzelunterricht nehmen musste), waren diesmal viele Lernwillige da. Was ich vorher nicht wusste, denn ich habe nach der guten Erfahrung und dem guten Fortschritt im letzten Jahr wieder Einzelunterricht genommen. Aufgrund der vielen anwesenden Gruppen wurde mein Einzelunterricht auf zwei Lehrkräfte verteilt, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Sowohl Cristina als auch Debora haben den Unterricht mit viel Humor und Liebe zum Detail gehalten.
Besonders posititv zu erwähnen sind die „Attività Integrative“, die meistens nach Kursende stattfinden und wo man Gelegenheit hat, Teilnehmer/innen anderer Kurse kennenzulernen. Das sind Ausflüge, gemeinsame Essen, Literaturstunden etc. Das Highlight in unserem Fall war eine Kochstunde: Wie bereite ich die Schiaccia briaca (typisch elbanische Nachspeise) zu. Cristina könnte durchaus als Fernsehköchin auftreten Emoticon smile:-). Diese Veranstaltungen sind sehr zu empfehlen und praktisch kostenlose Zusatzstunden. Weil natürlich auch dort Wert darauf gelegt wird, dass nur Italienisch gesprochen wird.
Das Umfeld rundet diesen absolut positiven Eindruch ab. Wenn immer möglich finden die Stunden im Grünen statt, an den vielen lauschigen Plätzchen rund um die Villa Teresa. Absolute Spitze!!!
FREE TIME
Freetime on Elba
Diving
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.

Walking
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).

Mountain Bike
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.

Golf
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.

Windsurfing and sailing
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.

Tennis
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.

Hourseback Riding
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.

Hot springs
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.

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