Procchio: Beaches, Coastal Paths and Island History

Procchio offers a varied combination of beaches, coastal paths, nature and traces of bygone eras. These include Spartaia Beach with its shallow water, the La Guardiola–Biodola trekking route through shady undergrowth, and observations along the rocky coast at Cantone Beach.

Hiking trails between beach and forest

The Elba Trail No. 245 begins at Campo all’Aia Beach in Procchio and leads to San Martino near the Villa Napoleonica. Along the way, it passes through the unspoilt beaches of Porticciolo. Another route is the La Guardiola–Biodola trekking route, which begins at La Guardiola Beach in Procchio. It runs through undergrowth with tall-stemmed holm oaks and is shaded along around 90 % of its length. From Procchio, it is also possible to reach Monte Perone as far as the “Malpasso”. This brings together different landscapes and trail characteristics, without every outing having to follow the same rhythm.

Beaches for relaxed and active days

Spartaia Beach borders Procchio and is located about 300 m from the town centre. It has very fine white sand and shallow water. Facilities for visitors include bathing establishments, sun lounger and parasol rental, pedal boat hire, a bar and a restaurant. The nearby La Paolina Beach can be reached via a 200 m-long path through tall woodland. Cantone Beach can be reached from Procchio Beach either along the shore or via a path of around 150 m with steps.

Island history and observations by the water

Part of the wreck of a Roman merchant ship from the 2nd century AD remains in the Bay of Procchio. La Paolina Beach is named after Paolina Bonaparte, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. The nearby islet of La Paolina was formerly called Castiglioncello and has visible archaeological remains on its summit. The islet next to La Paolina Beach is easy to reach through the shallow water.

Nature observation and archaeology also come together at Cantone Beach. Two submerged column fragments lie there at a depth of 1.5 m. They are regarded as archaeological evidence of ancient marble quarrying that was already carried out in Roman times above the beach and along the rocky coast. While snorkelling along the rocky coast at the nearby Cantone Beach, visitors can observe limpets, sea urchins and octopuses, among other things.

By bicycle and finding your way around

The Via del Mare cycling loop reaches Procchio via a steep, unpaved path from Acquaviva, thereby avoiding a long section of the provincial road. For orientation in the area, the Salotto di Procchio tourist information point is located at Piazzetta dei Delfini.

Discover more places

Discover more places: La Guardia, Poggio, Pomonte, Marciana Marina, Chiessi.

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