Marciana

TERRACE SUSPENDED BETWEEN SEA AND MOUNTAINS

The municipality of Marciana meanders along the slopes of Monte Capanne, in a hilly area located at 375 meters above sea level, with lush vegetation stretching down to the beautiful beaches.

The village has ancient origins, as evidenced by archaeological findings in the area; during the middle ages Marciana was one of the ten municipalities of Elba under the rule of Pisa. With the Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany had a great territorial expansion to encompass the entire Western Elba. In the late nineteenth century, the village of Marina di Marciana split from Marciana and follow Marina di Campo. The medieval municipality, still retains the typical narrow streets with steps and gates to the country. Among other things, to see the charming Fortezza Pisana, old shelter where the populations were hiding during pirate raids. With a convenient cable car not far from the town you can go up the mountain huts and arrive at more than 1000 metres above sea level for the scenery.

 

Traditions and typical products

Every year in August the village of Marciana organizes the Palio di Sant'Agabito, its origins date back to the years of the Principality of Appiani (1399). Donna Paola Colonna after the death of her husband, Gerardo Appiani, took charge of the Principality governed it in an exemplary way. The town was surrounded by walls and doors and inside it was built the Chiesa di Sant’Agabito, in honor of the father of Paola, Agabito Colonna. The first palio was announced on the day that ended the fortifications.

For a tour of taste, traditional recipes made with western Elba chestnuts as the “castagnaccio“, chestnut jam and chestnut honey.

 

 

Photo Credits [mapio.net]