Beaches and coves of Capraia

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Beaches and coves of Capraia

Living the sea in the most authentic and natural way.

Beaches and coves of Capraia

Living the sea in the most authentic and natural way.

A mosaic of enchanted bays and coves

Come and discover the Island of Capraia, a natural gem in the heart of the Mediterranean where you can escape the chaos of mass tourism and take refuge in a corner of paradise. This volcanic island, with its unspoiled beauty, invites you to uncover its unexplored and wild side, with crystal-clear waters gently caressing the shore, rugged depths sloping down into the deep blue, and a lush interior. Its coastline is a fascinating mosaic of contrasts, rugged and wild to the west, and more welcoming and accessible to the east.

Capraia is the perfect place for those seeking an authentic and rejuvenating experience, where you can enjoy pebble beaches, hidden caves, and isolated coves, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving in clear waters teeming with a rich and varied marine life. Here are the most beautiful places for an unforgettable plunge into the deep blue sea of Capraia.

Cala di San Francesco

A hidden paradise under the Convent of San Antonio, accessible through a path surrounded by the Mediterranean vegetation. An ideal place where you can enjoy the sun in a wild natural setting or swim and snorkel in transparent waters.

Zurletto Cove

The Zurletto Cove is a small secluded spot with pebbles and cliffs, perfect for sunbathing and daring dives among the turquoise reflections of the Capraia sea. Set in a rocky inlet, the cove is only accessible through a dirt road that winds through lush vegetation.

Cala del Ceppo

The Cala del Ceppo is found on the eastern coast just past the point of Civitata on a path that will lead you to a small rocky beach where the clear blue water reveals a not-too-deep seabed, perfect for snorkeling among submerged rocks and sandbars, where you can admire the rich marine fauna.

Cala di Porto Vecchio

Starting from the Azienda Agricola Valle di Porto Vecchio, a trail that winds through the territories of the Former Penal Colony will guide you through a breathtaking landscape to this wide cove with a narrow pebble beach and a sandy bottom, home to a vast seagrass meadow of posidonia.

Frate Beach

Located behind the ferry docking pier, this large pebble beach is perhaps the one that offers the easiest access to the sea on the island. During the summer, a small wooden platform with a ladder will allow you an easy entry into the water to comfortably enjoy a refreshing swim.

La Carbicina

This pebble beach, located on the east coast, is a perfect mix of volcanic cliffs that slope down towards sandy and posidonia seabeds. It can also be reached on foot along a coastal path and is one of the most popular stops of the boat taxi, a summer service that allows you to spend your days at sea even in the most inaccessible places in Capraia.

The Coast

Located along the western coast, this corner of the cliff can be accessed by sea or through a path that winds through nature and breathtaking views. Climbing up the rocks shaped by the sea and saltiness, you can linger on the peculiarities of the place: some small saltwater pools inhabited by fish and shrimp and the impressive split of a sea cave that will capture your gaze.

Cala del Moreto

Cala del Moreto, will open in front of you immediately after passing the south tip of the island, just beyond Cala Rossa. Oriented to the southwest, this beautiful bay is characterized by two pebble beaches, the first of which has a central canyon from which you can access the Zenobito plain, while the second, known as Calanca del Sordo, can only be reached by sea.

Cala della Mortola

Unique in its kind, Cala della Mortola is a particular example of an “elusive beach”. Its shoreline changes depending on the weather and sea conditions. The sand only accumulates during Libeccio storms, giving way to pebbles and rocks when the winds of Tramontana, Grecale, Levante, and Scirocco blow. Accessible only by sea, including via taxi boats, it is a real treasure of natural beauty that will enchant you with the green and blue reflections of its seabed.

Seccatoia Bay

This small inlet, only reachable by boat, offers a unique landscape with beautiful and varied coloured seabeds. During the winter and spring, a small waterfall forms along the steep coast, creating a natural spectacle of rare beauty.

Cala del Reciso

Characterized by two natural rock arches that enter the sea, Cala del Reciso will offer you a truly unique experience in contact with nature. Among emerging rocks and transparent pebbly seabeds, you can swim in an environment of exciting beauty. Despite being reachable only by boat, it is also the perfect place to enjoy the sunset over the nearby Corsica.

The Red Cove

The suggestive Cala Rossa is probably one of the most famous and characteristic points of the Capraia coast, from which you can admire what remains of a volcanic mouth over 4 million years old. Dominated by the Tower of Zenobito, it is perhaps one of the most unique and beautiful coves in the Mediterranean. Also reachable only by sea, it is the symbol of the wild and uncontaminated nature of Capraia Island.

Vetriolo Cove

Located on the coast facing Corsica, between Punta del Trattoio and the island of Peraiola, the beautiful and uncrowded Vetriolo Cove will offer you a naturalistic experience full of colors, from the red of volcanic rocks to the yellow of sulfur emerging from the bright blue sea. In the center of the cove, next to the gray rock wall called the “elephant’s skin”, there is also a cave with two entrances whose walls covered with orange lichens are a true natural spectacle. The transparent seabed, ranging in depth from 1 to 11 meters, is mostly sandy; if you love snorkeling, you can’t miss it. And as if that weren’t enough, during rainfalls, a waterfall of drinking water forms from a spring on Monte Rosso.

Punta della Teglia

If you want to take a beautiful walk while appreciating the beauty of the Capraia coast, starting from Porto Vecchio, near the former Penal Colony, you will find a trail that will lead you to Punta della Teglia. A journey of about 1 hour and a half immersed in the breathtaking panoramic views of the northern coast of the Island. Once you reach your destination, under the watchful eye of a colony of royal seagulls and the mouflons that frequent the area, you will be able to admire the remains of the Torre delle Barbici (or Tower of the Queen or Tower of Punta Teja), one of the Island’s four coastal towers, the only one with a square base, built by the Genoese in 1699 to spot pirate raids. From the tower, by following a short and uneven trail, you can reach the sea for a refreshing dive in the crystal clear waters of the place.

The Bath Tower

The flat cliff of “il Bagno”, once a fortified outpost of the San Giorgio Castle, can be reached through a steep and narrow path that takes about 10 minutes to climb. This path hides one of the most fascinating coves in the whole island of Capraia. Despite the steep path, once you arrive, you will be welcomed by a fabulous sea with deep and crystal-clear waters. But the true star of the place is the Bagno Tower, an elegant cylindrical tower, tall and narrow, with a collapsed dome, which was part of the island’s defense system. Built by the Genoese in 1790 for defense against sieges, it is characterized by a ramping arch that still connects it to the steep rocky wall where a protected walkway once led directly to the Fort.

La Grotta Beach

Overlooking the Port Bay, the Grotta is perhaps the most convenient access to the sea on the island. Easily accessible on foot, it will offer you a level platform of small pebbles and rocks overlooking the sea. The shallow waters, the possibility to rent umbrellas and sunbeds, assistance, the Bar, and facilities for swimmers make the place very suitable for families and children.

Useful informations

Who:

Alone, Children and families, Groups, In pairs, With friends
When:

Spring, Summer
What:

Connect with nature, Do activities, Relax
Other characteristics

Free, Outdoors, Reachable by public transport, Without reservation