The following is a guest post by Christian Moranda. I reached out to Christian on Twitter after seeing him post some amazing scenery from this island. After his description of this island and even more pictures, this is definitely one to add to the list.
I love nature and trail running while my wife loves the sea and the beach; so which better place than this island where we can be both happy? Elba Island an island of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia. The beauty of this place is the varied terrain that you can find: mountains like Mount Capanne called the "roof of the Tuscan Archipelago" and Mount Calamita where there are deposits of iron.There is then the flatland in the middle and surrounding the island are the coasts with their beautiful beaches. Napoleon I, the french emperor, was actually exiled here.
Every year there is the "Elba trail" a race of 57 km D+3300 m between forest roads, single track trails and great rocky paths. I used to wake up early in the morning and run from the house up to Cross Mount (so called for a big iron cross on the top of it) from level sea to 420 m in 10 km and then stay there for a while watching wild goats and sometimes boars walking around; then back to the sea, take a bath and back home for breakfast! Just fantastic!
One day I went to Mount Capanne (the tallest mountain) and it was just an epic day; the place is beautiful with a fantastic woods and a very technical trail; from the top of it you can see all the island profile and you can run on the mountain ridge! And then down as fast as you can between rocks and trees, I felt great that day! Found a french family of runners and I went down with them.
I live near the hills and I usually run there it's really a nice place but this experience in this beautiful island was a blast! For sure I will go again and run where I haven't been!
