CAPOLIVERI (165 m) – FATTORIA DELLE RIPALTE (200m) – STRACCOLIGNO (0 m) – MONTE CALAMITA (413 m)
Length 23.7 km
Duration 2 h 30 minutes
Highest point 404 m
Lowest point 0 m
Total ascent 632m
Total descent 565m
TYPE: (route A) 80% on dirt; 20% on asphalt, 100% on dirt with the detour on path no. 70 (path B).
Difficulty: minimum.
The first itinerary starts from Capoliveri, a typical village on the east side of the island. Take the unpaved road just outside the village that goes towards the “Costa dei Gabbiani” and crosses the plain at the bottom of Mount Calamita for about 10 kilometers.
Along the road on the right you may admire the Stella Gulf, the small islands of Gemini and the beautiful beach called ‘Innamorata’, well known for the legend and the historical event that takes place on it every year. The road runs above the old abandoned mines (Punta Calamita, about six kilometers from the starting point), which were used in the past to excavate iron and magnetite. Continuing slightly uphill you will reach Fattoria delle Ripalte, a tourist resort surrounded by vegetation and with good accommodation facilities.
Continuing slightly uphill you will reach Fattoria delle Ripalte, a tourist resort surrounded by vegetation and with good accommodation facilities. From this point you can choose between two directions: for Itinerary A, go beyond the gates of the private and State lands and take an unpaved road downhill that arrives at Calagrande. This route crosses an area rich in vegetation and with a beautiful view over the north-east part of the island and the inlets of Stagnone and Calanova. Once you arrive at Calagrande, this itinerary continues on a paved road uphill that returns to Capoliveri. If instead you go left from Fattoria delle Ripalte, after a short stretch of unpaved road you may turn into trail No. 70 (Itinerary B) and cycle through woods of stone-pines and cluster-pines, mimosas and acacias, and on your way maybe see some hares and pheasants.
Trail No.70 runs along the other side of Mount Calamita and the fine views are over the part of coast that goes from Porto Azzurro to Punta delle Cannelle, with Fortress Focardo and Forte San Giacomo, today a prison but once a Spanish fortress built in the 17th century. When you reach the Air Force beacon continue downhill in the firebreak that turns into a steep descent on cement ground that will take you all the way to Capoliveri, in front of Municipal Square.