The house is located 40 feet from the waters of Punta delle Ripalte, the southernmost tip of the Elba island, very appreciated by divers due to its rich marine fauna! To reach the sea and dive from the rocks you simply need to walk down a brief trail from the house. It is in fact called “Villa dello Scoglio” (the villa on the rock) because of its rare location!
The house sits within a 1000 acre private estate of mediterranean woodland ( the “Tenuta delle Ripalte” ), yet it’s independent from its management.
The area is called “Costa dei Gabbiani” ( seagulls’ coast ) because seagulls go there to nest in spring.
The “Villa hello Scoglio” is reachable by car from the picturesque town of Capolivery by means of a white panoramic road topping the cliff, soaked in the scent of mediterranean vegetation for about six miles. You dive in a timeless place, where mother nature is sovereign. A place where you can expect close encounters with hares, pheasants, hawks, goats, boars, dormice and hedgehogs. An abandoned iron mine, which is open to visits, stands as a reminder of how timeless nature takes back what man thought he could conquer.
The road goes on until it reaches a small oasis: this is the centre of the “Tenuta delle Ripalte”. Here you will find a bar, a restaurant, a small market, tennis camps and a hotel. An electrically driven chain barrier prevents curious tourists from pushing further by car. Access to the vast beaches, woods and vineyards of the Ripalte is only allowed to the guests of the estate. That’s why even in the hottest days of the high season you can enjoy sharing the seaside with only few people.
Beyond the chain barrier the white road extends for another 1.2 miles, ending right at the “Villa dello Scoglio”, one of the two privately owned houses in the whole estate.
It’s the ideal location to relax and recover from a stressful life. A place for those who appreciate feeling guests of the wilderness, those who like withdrawing in the nature, those who like the idea of being 8 miles away from the closest town, those who like to take a swim right out of home, those who enjoy seeing very few people around even on 15 August, those who crave for uncontaminated waters, those who want to have to walk to the tip of the rock to get a phone signal.
When you feel overcome by all the wilderness, you can easily reach a well equipped beach within the estate, featuring every comfort: bathrooms, showers, sunbeds, beach umbrellas, a bar, a restaurant, WiFi internet and daily fish and meat barbecues.
Otherwise if you feel adventurous, you can discover a number of breathtaking wild beaches within the “Costa dei Gabbiani”.
When you need to take a brake from the seaside, there are numerous activities that you can practice in the estate. You can ride horses, and book horse riding lessons. You can play tennis or visit the modern winery, designed by famous architect Scarpa, tasting typical Italian wines, especially the renown Aleatico, which is produced on the island. You can reach the diver’s centre at Remaiolo beach and rent a boat to visit the southern tip of the island from the sea. Its quite common to see goats climbing fearlessly on the cliffs, and if you get lucky you can also see dolphins playing around!
On the road to Capoliveri there are two iron mines, visits can be booked beforehand.
About 8 miles away is Capoliveri, picturesque town, once miners village, that attracts international tourism. The beautiful town, located on the tip of a hill at the centre of a green peninsula, dominates the surrounding sea, offering breathtaking views to its visitors. Spotted with bars and restaurants, it’s a lovely place to spend evenings between aperitifs and typical dinners. Numerous boutiques are available too for shoppers.
About 10 miles away, Porto Azzurro offers a completely different view, with its famous and beautiful touristic marina. The contrast of the blue waters and white boats makes for an incredible setting for its many vibrant restaurants and boutiques.
Name of the property: Villa dello Scoglio
Title: Just like on a boat, a dive away from the water!
Summary: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, mezzanine, porch, barbecue, outside shower.
Description:
The house is located 40 feet from the waters of Punta delle Ripalte, the southernmost tip of the Elba island, very appreciated by divers due to its rich marine fauna! To reach the sea and dive from the rocks you simply need to walk down a brief trail from the house. It is in fact called “Villa dello Scoglio” (the villa on the rock) because of its rare location! Most of our guests compare it to staying on a boat, with the added safety of being on solid ground!
The “Villa dello Scoglio” is reachable by car from the picturesque town of Capolivery by means of a white panoramic road topping the cliff, soaked in the scent of mediterranean vegetation for about six miles. You dive in a timeless place, where mother nature is sovereign. The house sits within a 1000 acre private estate of mediterranean woodland and 8 miles of coast ( the “Tenuta delle Ripalte” ), yet it’s independent from its management. Access to the vast beaches, woods and vineyards of the Ripalte is only allowed to the guests of the estate. That’s why even in the hottest days of the high season you can enjoy sharing the seaside with only few people.
The house is literally embedded in the Mediterranean wilderness, dotted with little oleander and tamarisk oases where goats can’t reach them.
The house was built in the ’20s as a military outpost for a photocell. It was erected on the southernmost tip of the Elba island, a strategically important location. The photocell reportedly illuminated the Montecristo island a few miles out.
The view is breathtaking, the house is met by the scene of the Mediterranean sea spreading in its grandeur: you can see the islands of Argentario, Giglio, Montecristo and Pianosa with your naked eyes.
At sunset you can even see the island of Corsica ( France ), behind which the sun lays offering spectacular pictures.
It’s the ideal location to relax and recover from a stressful life. A place for those who appreciate feeling guests of the wilderness, those who like withdrawing in the nature, those who like the idea of being 8 miles away from the closest town, those who like to take a swim right out of home, those who enjoy seeing very few people around even on 15 August, those who crave for uncontaminated waters, those who want to have to walk to the tip of the rock to get a phone signal.
When you feel overcome by all the wilderness, you can easily reach a well equipped beach within the estate, featuring every comfort: bathrooms, showers, sunbeds, beach umbrellas, a bar, a restaurant, WiFi internet and daily fish and meat barbecues.
Otherwise if you feel adventurous, you can discover a number of breathtaking wild beaches within the “Costa dei Gabbiani”.
The house lends itself to be experienced fully, especially in its outside quarters.
The blue sails that cover the porch offer a delicate protection from the sun, so you can delightfully eat on the outside dining table while taking in the colourful view.
The trail down to the water, in spring, offers pink emotions covered in flowers; a small creek hydrates goats that pass by.
It takes mere minutes to walk down the train between the rocks to dive in the sea.
Outside the house you can enjoy sunbathing on sunbeds and chairs.
You can also find a barbecue with a convenient working plane and an external shower with sun-warmed water ( warm until 7pm ).
Interior furniture was carefully chosen and put together through the years by the owners with a tastefully simple style.
The independent kitchen is well connected to the external barbecue through a window.
The living room gives access to the porch through two french windows. A window opens right towards the seaside view. The room is very well lit, divided into a living area and a dining area.
On top the living room is the mezzanine, made of white-finished wood, which features two extra single beds.
There are two night quarters, one is independent in the back of the house, with a double room with a queen sized bed and its own bathroom, with direct access to the garden and the external shower too. The other area is accessed from the living room through a corridor facing a bathroom, a double bedroom with a bunk bed and another double bedroom with a queen sized bed and a fantastic view of the seaside.
At nighttime you might be surprised at the amount of light thrown by the moon, you often can wander around without requiring a torch. On the other hand, moonless nights offer an epic view of the stars and the milky way.
The area is particularly attractive to those who love the wilderness and are seeking for peace and tranquility. A holiday at the “Scoglio” is a true immersion in mother nature, you can easily wake up with friendly animals out the window, a hedgehog, a goat, a small bird… At night its best to keep windows closed while lights are on, to avoid mosquitoes being driven inside. You must keep in mind those are the only lights to be seen in a range of miles!
Recommendations:
- Car: please bare in mind that the path to the house is mostly made of bumpy white roads, you might want to avoid getting there with an overly low car.
- Kids: the wild nature of the location, with high rocks and no protections, makes it less than ideal for kids running around: young ones should be kept under surveillance at all times.
- Swimming: due to the extreme location ( southmost tip ), it is advisable to check the currents before diving in the water, there is a risk of being pulled away from shore.
- Soft water: water should be saved at all times, it is a small island. The house is well connected to the central hydric services and features an emergency reservoir, nonetheless water should be rationed in the hottest months.
Love and hate issues:
- Mobile phone: phone reception is inconsist
