Miniere di Capoliveri

Welcome to the Calamita Mines, the 'iron heart' of the Island of Elba. We are standing on the southern tip of the island, a region whose destiny has been defined by its extraordinary mineral wealth for nearly three thousand years. …

We begin our exploration at the Museum of the Old Workshop, housed in the original maintenance buildings of the mine. This museum is a curated time capsule, preserving the administrative and technical nerve center of the Calamita…

As we move toward the entrance of the Ginevro mine, we leave the open air and prepare to descend into the mountain. This specific mine is the only one on Elba that allowed for deep underground excavation, with galleries that…

We are now at the first level of the mine, situated approximately 6 meters above the level of the sea. This is the most accessible part of the underground complex, where the main transport galleries are located. …

Deep within the Ginevro mine lies 'Cultivation No,' an immense subterranean chamber that defies easy comprehension of scale. To understand its size, one can compare it to the Milan Cathedral; while the interior of the Duomo has a…

Though the standard tour usually remains on the upper levels, the mine actually continues much deeper, reaching a maximum depth of 94 meters below sea level. At this depth, we are well below the Mediterranean floor, and the only…

Returning to the surface, we visit the Vallone yard, a massive flat area the size of three football fields, created entirely from the waste material of the mine. This 'piazzale' is a dramatic example of industrial terraforming;…

Our journey through the Capoliveri Mines concludes here, back in the bright Mediterranean light. We have traveled from the meticulously preserved offices of the 20th century to the vast, dark caverns far beneath the sea floor. …