Marciana

Marciana is one of the eight municipalities of the Italian island of Elba, with the main town of Marciana Alto and 2192 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012). It belongs to the province of Livorno in Tuscany.

Geography

The municipality Marciana is located in the western part of the island of Elba, and extends into the coastline of Procchio to Pomonte around the massif of Monte Capanne, which is also part of the district, but without the district of Marciana Marina, which is an independent municipality since 1951. The Monte Capanne is s.l.m. 1019 m also the highest point on the island of Elba. Large parts of the municipality are part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago.

Districts are Marciana Alta as its capital, Poggio, Sant'Andrea, Colle d' Oran, Chiessi, Pomonte and Procchio. Other notable towns are Zanca, Patresi and Colle d' Oran addition to the many smaller groups such as le casine, Conca, Maciarello.

Procchio, Sant'Andrea, Chiessi and Pomonte located directly on the sea.

The neighboring municipalities are Campo nell'Elba, Marciana Marina and Portoferraio.

History

The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as archaeological findings show. Marciana Alta was founded as the oldest church in Elba 35 BC by the Romans Marcius. In the Middle Ages and the early modern period Marciana changed as the other parts of the island frequently and necessarily the membership.

A fortress was the place in the 12th century under the rule of the Republic of Pisa. It offered the people protection against at that time frequent pirate raids. In the immediate vicinity of the former fort ⊙ 42.78903331777810.1672673225 today is the Archaeological Museum of the community with numerous finds from the area.

The formerly associated Marciana Marina 1954 independent municipality.

Landscape and Nature

The western part of the island of Elba, and thus the municipality Marciana is characterized by granite rock that forms the mountains and extends into the sea. The granite peaks are visible from two directions. The northbound mountain slopes are densely wooded with forests of chestnut and oak trees. The west facing part is very sparse vegetation and limited primarily to scrub.

The highest elevations are in addition to the 1019 m high Monte Capanne Monte Giove with 855 m and the Monte di Cote 950 m, a western spur of Mount Capanne.

The coastline is generally rocky and steep down to the places where mountain valleys open into the sea. There you will find small bays with beaches that are usually covered with gravel or crushed stone. Some places, however, like Sant'Andrea, fill their beaches with sand on consuming and maintain it accordingly.

Tourism and Transport

Of course, the municipality Marciana is developed for tourism. As a main road, the island - umführende panoramic road which is performed because of the mountains in this region to approximately 160 m above sea level is. Numerous furnished viewpoints, usually equipped with tables and benches have amazing views. Public bus transportation is also secured here. The villages lying on the sea are accessible through each narrow and winding but well maintained roads.

Bank branches can be found in most of the places mentioned in Marciana Alta is the post office to find. When the tourists very popular is the village of Sant'Andrea due to the quiet location, the bathing granite rocks and the turquoise sea in this area. Especially among mountaineers and hikers, the place is known.

The shopping is limited to the bare essentials. Small grocery stores and during the holiday season open souvenir shops with bath products are usually found. The range of hotels and holiday homes and apartments is abundant in the tourist centers.

Attractions

In addition to the places Marciana Alta and Poggio, as such, are worth a visit, long walks on offer in this region of Elba. Numerous well-marked paths connect height in stages that lie on the sea towns.

• Marciana Alta: The local interior is fascinating with many staircase streets and picturesque squares.
• The church of Santa Caterina ⊙ 42.78948604027810.169300436944stammt from the 16th century and was built to replace a previous chapel. The construction was difficult due to the extreme slope of the terrain.
• A climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte ⊙ 42.79109613055610.152729749722 in 630 m height should not be missed. Due to the amount of which is magnificent and expansive views over the entire Tuscan Archipelago to offer across to Corsica. The church is from 1595 and is located on the slope of Monta Giove in a picturesque way with the twelve Stations of Christ. On every August 15 is a pilgrimage of Marciana place along the path Passion for the Church. In the nearby Hermitage Napoleon stayed on the late summer of 1814 with the Countess Maria Walevska two days.

• See there

Gallery

The cable car to Monte Capanne

Landform in the west Marcianas

Stein Monster

Marciana: Church of Santa Caterina

Marciana: Interior of Santa Caterina

Sant'Andrea

Gulf of Procchio