Butterfly and Pollinator Festival

A festival celebrating the butterflies of Elba Island

Every year on June 2nd, Monte Perone becomes the heart of one of the most beloved nature events on Elba Island: the Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. The high-altitude picnic area, situated on the border between the municipalities of Campo nell'Elba and Marciana, welcomes hundreds of participants who hike up to the Ornella Casnati Butterfly Sanctuary, the first butterfly sanctuary established in Italy. The festival is promoted by Legambiente Arcipelago Toscano with the World Biodiversity Association (WBA) and in collaboration with the Arcipelago Toscano National Park.

A walk between science and nature

The meeting point is at 10:30 AM at the Monte Perone picnic area. From here, a guided walk of approximately 4 kilometers (round trip) begins along the trails of the Sanctuary, accessible from Poggio for those coming from Marciana, and from Sant'Ilario and San Piero for those arriving from Marina di Campo. Along the path, accompanied by guides from the Park, Legambiente, and the WBA, as well as researchers from the University of Florence, visitors discover over 60 species of diurnal butterflies and the rare flora of the Elban mountains, such as the famous Elba violet. It is a unique opportunity for scientific outreach accessible to everyone, where entomology and botany become an open-air narrative.

Elban flavors and live music

Upon returning to Monte Perone, Legambiente and the Park offer all participants a snack based on typical local products: Poggio micchette bread, Patresi onions, tomatoes, olives and Tuscan oil, goat cheeses from San Piero, pecorino, local DOC wine, and the traditional torta briaca. The day concludes with an acoustic concert, a convivial occasion that brings the island community and visitors together for a final toast.

An event for Tuscany's biodiversity

The Butterfly and Pollinator Festival is more than just an outing: it is a call to action for the protection of pollinators and biodiversity, a theme increasingly central to the health of our ecosystems. Included in the event calendar of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, it represents one of the most significant moments for slow and responsible tourism on Elba Island, in the province of Livorno and the heart of Tuscany.

Useful information

• When: June 2nd, meeting at 10:30 AM
• Where: Monte Perone picnic area, Ornella Casnati Butterfly Sanctuary
• Route: approximately 4 km round trip; suitable shoes, hat, and water recommended
• Participation: free, but booking is mandatory