The island of Capraia

The island of Capraia

Capraia is the most remote island of the Tuscan archipelago, but can still be reached quite comfortably with passenger ferries from Livorno. I say passenger ferries because the car in Capraia is useless, no more than a paved road kilometer. On the other hand, on its 19 square kilometers there are numerous beautiful paths, which we describe below. And the coasts of Capraia have some beautiful bays, including the very special Cala Rossa, with colored rocky walls and the Genoese tower.

The ferry from Livorno to Capraia takes about two hours and three quarters. You arrive in Capraia Porto, which is a characteristic marina with the typical sea houses and the hills spoils around. From Capraia Porto you can reach the town of Capraia Island in about twenty minutes walk along the slightly climbing road, or more comfortably by bus.

Those who reach Capraia with their boat can obviously take advantage of the port, whose moorings go to steal in the middle of the summer season, or of the boes immediately outside. For the Ligurian sailors, the night crossing by sailboat with arrival in Capraia early in the morning is a classic!

Capraia trails

Capraia has as unique inhabited centers Capraia Porto and Capraia Island, in which they live in all of 400 people and found close up on a bay in the north-east of the Island: All the rest of Capraia is wild, hilly and crossed by paths. The only buildings are stables or remains of the old prison, when the prisoners cultivated the lands of the island.

From Capraia Porto you can take the mule track that rises towards the inside of the island and then folds north. The ruins meet and then go up on a hill between the Mediterranean scrub, up to the ovile where the goats of Capraia are.

From here you can continue at altitude, with the path that follows from above the north coast of the island, warning vineyards and nature and the sea that laps the rocky walls of the island, up to the tower of the Barbicians, or Torre della Regina, a East of the northern tip of Capraia.

From Ovile It is also possible to take the south-facing path that arrives at Monte Castello, tapping the highest point of the island at 440 meters. This itinerary remains at altitude, crossing Capraia from north to south along the ridge of the mountains inside. The southernmost point reachable with the path is the Zenobito Tower, immediately above the wonderful red Cala.

With the route inside the island, from the Barbician tower to the Zeno Tower, then from the far north to the southernmost point of Capraia, they use about 4 hours of walking, for a total of 12 km of development and over 400 Different meters.

In summary: Capraia Porto and Capraia country are practically attached, lying on the central-north coast of Capraia. Walking to the north you arrive in 5 km to the tower of the barbals following the "coastal" path - in quotation marks because it is in any case at least a hundred meters above sea level; From the Barbic Tower in a dozen km, going into the interior, you get south, to the Zeno Tower. From the Zenhito (and from Cala Rossa) you can return to the north and to the town of Capraia with the path that follows the coast.

This section from the Zenobito to the village is a wonderful excursion just over 7 km, which can be traveled in a couple of hours; Also in this case the itinerary does not pass over the sea, but at altitude, in the middle of the moor above the steep cliffs that characterize Capraia. But it is worth taking the detour to some bays: first in Cala del Ceppo, then approaching the town of Capraia Island, to the splendid Cala dello Zuretto, where a bathroom is highly recommended.

Cala dello Zuretto, in particular, is just twenty minutes walk (1 km) from the village, on a comfortable trail, apart from the final descent a bit steep up to the cove. Along this section you can admire the imperious castle.

Capraia from the sea

By boat, canoe or stand-up-paddle, it is obviously wonderful to admire Capraia from the sea. For the larger boats, the best moorings are Cala Rossa, Cala del Ceppo, obviously the bay of the port of Capraia, and Cala della Mortola in the northern part. Keep in mind that the west coast is a natural park and there is neither anchor or transit it, since the monk seal has been spotted.

To admire the wonders of the Capraia coast, a boat (rentable for the day in Capraia Porto) or a kayaking or a sup are perfect! Kayak could also go around the island on a very active day (at least with calm sea). The goat's dickness is about twenty kilometers, something more following all the inlets. Even in canoe, however, we need to take into account that on the west side one must be kept to a mile of the coast, which is unpleasant as uncomfortable. Apart from that, but the views are amazing !!

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