Castancoli (above Cavoli), a bushy area, mostly formed by wild rosemary where it is not unlikely to come across flights of groups of red partridge; here we are in the center of the kingdom of Elban granite, extracted since ancient times.
Pastoralism has also left its memories, as the caprili and grottini that we find in the west of Elba remind us.
The pastoral Grottino domolito or grottino, as it is called by our shepherds, is a dry-stone construction used since time immemorial as a refuge and place for the production of ricotta and simple cheeses; combined with the fence or closed, it formed the classic caprile. It had a circular plan with a roof made by protruding stone rings, protruding inwards, which gradually make up a sort of dome impermeable to water, but at the same time sufficiently ventilated to allow the fire to be lit.
The entrance is oriented so as to be sheltered from the prevailing local winds; often there is a small opening to give more light to the interior. The ancient construction technique is widespread throughout the Mediterranean area; similar is the girna, typical of Malta, and the pinnètta in Sardinia.
