It is a strange name for a beach on the Island of Elba, but if our predecessors wanted to make a comparison between divine power of the biblical character and the power of this place, then I agree. The short white beach is located behind an imposing,reef, the last offshoot of the white cliffs on the west of Portoferraio.
You will understand how popular it is just few hundred metres before the entrance to the road leading to the beach: dozens of cars will be parked haphazardly along the road, and this might discourage you, but be assured that your patience will be well rewarded. We must say that it is not easy to reach this beach, first there is a place for parking, then a walk of 4/500 meters along a very bumpy path, both downhill and uphill. Sansone beach requires some sacrifice and certainly excludes those who have difficulty walking. Despite the difficulties, during the high season resign yourself to share it with a surprising amount of tourists, many of them children and young people.
Leaving the car, the short hike to get to your destination starts with a downhill paved road in the midst of houses and continues with less than 100 meters of bumpy and narrow path. At this point, it runs into a beach of white pebbles, but this not the beach of Sansone, it is Sorgente but you might like to decide not to go further: there are less than a hundred yards of white pebbles with clear sea so, many are content to stop here. Although the river source doesn’t exist anymore, the name wasn’t chosen at random, but for now you’ll have to settle for a kiosk stocked with table football and a good sea view.
If you are a determined type and spirited sportsperson, or at least young at heart, you can tackle the trail that climbs to about 50 meters on the reef, mainly consisting of thick, evergreen vegetation. During the climb, if you don’t suffer from vertigo, there are a couple of viewpoints which will let you enjoy the light and atmosphere of the place. A rock separated from the reef, 6.5 meters high, separates this beach from the beach of the Source of Sansone and forms the springboard from which some brave people try diving.
Arriving at the peak of the path, the view is worth a short halt. In front of you, in all its majestic beauty, you’ll see one of the most picturesque corners of the Island of Elba: the cliffs are so majestic that they make an impressive backdrop, certainly one of the most interesting on the island, even if you just want to have a short swim. Usually the water has a luminous quality that lets you see the transparency of the beautiful white depths and as your gaze turns toward the open sea, you get a glimpse of the a lush meadows of Posidonia, only one of the many varied different residents of our sea.
It is hard to describe the satisfaction that comes from swimming in this part of the sea, which gives the feeling of participating in the power of the place. The beach is small, with a point for hiring beach loungers, parasols, pedalos and canoes and I can recommend to anyone who doesn’t want to swim a lot, to visit the cliffs all around. It is bordered to the east by the rock / springboard we met on arrival, and around this rock, on the side toward the ground, the water is low and clear and it is easy to reach the beach of Sorgente. On the opposite side, to the west, the beach is closed from the cliff, but about 50 meters ahead, we can see another short beach that can be reached by swimming, the water is shallow and you can also wade there. They will tell you that it is not a good idea to stay in this “last resort” due to debris that may fall on you: keep in mind that this is a very remote possibility as it is not under any cliffs.The central part of the beach is occupied by beach loungers and parasols for hire, but there is always a good part of beach on both right and left free, and that in my opinion are the best parts!
If you decide to swim for at least 20-30 minutes, do not miss heading along the coast towards the headland of’Enfola, or in the opposite direction from the beach of Sorgente.. You will have the chance to enjoy the live spectacle of the cliff at least until the large stack. It is a big chunk of rock broken off from the main cliff with a split, in the middle of the sea and well made that you can easily swim across. The backdrop is magnificent, a real part of the Mediterranean. This is Sansone beach in it’s real state..
Graziano Rinaldi
