Procchio: Beaches, Coastal Paths and Traces of History

Procchio combines beaches, paths through the coastal landscape and unusual traces of the past. Between Spartaia Beach, the islet of La Paolina and the archaeological evidence off Cantone, the area presents a diverse picture: you can swim, hike, cycle or combine maritime history and marine life while snorkelling.

Paths between Beach, Forest and History

A notable starting point is the Sentiero Elba No. 245. It begins at Campo all’Aia Beach in Procchio and leads to San Martino near the Villa Napoleonica. The path also passes through the unspoilt beaches of Porticciolo. This route therefore connects several different coastal sections with a destination near the Villa Napoleonica. The Via del Mare cycling loop also reaches Procchio. From Acquaviva, it follows a steep, unpaved path, thereby avoiding a long section of the provincial road. Anyone including this route in their selection should therefore take into account its explicitly stated steep and unpaved character. For hikers, the La Guardiola–Biodola trekking route also begins in Procchio, at La Guardiola Beach. Around 90% of its length is shaded; it leads through undergrowth with mature holm oaks. From Procchio, you can also reach Monte Perone as far as the “Malpasso”.

Beaches with Different Characteristics

Spartaia Beach borders Procchio and is approximately 300 m from the town centre. It has very fine white sand and shallow water. There are bathing establishments, sun lounger and parasol rental, pedal boat hire, a bar and a restaurant on site. This combination clearly distinguishes Spartaia from the unspoilt beach sections along the Sentiero Elba No. 245. La Paolina Beach is named after Paolina Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister. The nearby islet of La Paolina, formerly called Castiglioncello, has visible archaeological remains at its summit. The islet next to the beach is easy to reach through the shallow water. The beach itself lies at the end of a 200 m path through tall forest.

Underwater at Cantone

The nearby beach of Cantone can be reached from Procchio Beach along the shore or via a path of approximately 150 m with steps. At a depth of 1.5 m, two submerged column fragments lie there. They are considered archaeological evidence of ancient marble quarrying, which was already carried out in Roman times above the beach and along the rocky coast. While snorkelling along the rocky coast, you can observe limpets, sea urchins and octopuses, among other marine life. For initial orientation, the Salotto di Procchio tourist information point is located at Piazzetta dei Delfini. If you would also like to compare other places, you can find Pomonte, Marciana Marina, Chiessi, Poggio and La Guardia here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Marciana.