Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba - 2026 Results
Environment
Via dell'Essenza Joins the Cammini d'Italia Network
In 2026, Via dell'Essenza, the 68 km coastal trail divided into eight stages and developed by the Foundation together with the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, officially joined the Cammini d'Italia network. This recognition was celebrated during SEIF 2026, accompanied by a nationwide communication campaign highlighting the beauty and diversity of the Mediterranean scrubland plants that grow along the route.
During the year, signage was completed along all stages and dedicated trail materials were created: a passport, stamps and a certificate for those who complete the route. A network of partner accommodation providers and restaurants was established with local operators. Together with the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a programme of six free guided hikes with Park Guides was organised throughout the year. Autolinee Toscane also joined the project, providing three dedicated free shuttle services for return journeys on three of these hikes. The aim was to encourage collective transport and promote use of the trail beyond the summer season.
Hikers can also help maintain the trail: all proceeds from the official passport support the Via dell'Essenza project. In addition, Acqua dell'Elba has committed 20% of the selling price of two of its products, the insulated water bottle created with 24Bottles and the canvas bag, directly to supporting Via dell'Essenza.
Education
Books Project
For the 2025-26 school year, the fourth consecutive year of the initiative, the Foundation enriched the libraries of ITCG Cerboni and ISIS Foresi in Portoferraio with more than 100 new books: two-thirds selected by the schools and one-third by the Foundation on the year's theme, fake news.
Project Work
In collaboration with IULM University, students from ISIS Foresi and ITCG Cerboni worked throughout an entire school year on the topic of fake news, also using books donated by the Foundation, to learn how to distinguish reliable information from manipulation. The programme concluded in May with a public presentation of their work. The theme chosen for the following year is the European Union and its many anniversaries in 2027: the 70th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, the 40th anniversary of Erasmus, the 35th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty and the 25th anniversary of the euro.
Culture
SEIF 2026 - Mediterranean Itineraries
From 26 to 28 June, the eighth edition of SEIF - Sea Essence International Festival took place, dedicated to "Mediterranean Itineraries": sailing routes, coastal trails, exchanges between peoples and cultures, and educational pathways bringing the sea into schools. The festival took place across three municipalities, Marciana, Portoferraio and Marciana Marina, with three free evening events and daily workshops for children organised by Legambiente Arcipelago Toscano, diving activities with the island's diving centres and walks along Via dell'Essenza in collaboration with the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a long-standing festival partner. The SEIF Award, now in its third edition, was presented to Francesca Santoro, Senior Programme Officer at UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The SEIF Literary Award was also established and presented to journalist and writer Luca Misculin, author of "Mare aperto". The festival received the endorsement of the UNESCO Ocean Decade and the patronage of, among others, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Ministry for Civil Protection and Sea Policies and the Italian Coast Guard, as well as all the municipalities of the Island of Elba and numerous local associations. Media coverage reached a nationwide audience: 54 media features, including 23 in leading media outlets, generating over 15 million contacts, with reports on TG1 and UnoMattina on Rai 1 and nine journalists from national media outlets visiting Elba for the press tour. On the Foundation's and Acqua dell'Elba's social media channels, festival content exceeded 340,000 views.
Blue Schools: Towards a National Network
After supporting all schools on the Island of Elba and in the Tuscan Archipelago in becoming Blue Schools, in 2026 the project began expanding beyond Tuscany. During the second half of the 2026-2026 school year, the agreement with ANCIM became fully operational, extending the project to schools on Italy's smaller islands. Furthermore, on 8 April, the Foundation, together with UNESCO-IOC, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and ANCIM, organised the webinar "Blue Schools in Italy: Educating About the Ocean, Building the Network", aimed at schools interested in joining the programme. Finally, on 27 June, the first in-person meeting of Italian Blue Schools was held in Portoferraio: alongside schools from the Tuscan Archipelago, delegations attended from La Spezia, Naples, Monfalcone, Follonica and Latina.
During the year, the Foundation strengthened its dialogue with the European secretariat of the Network of European Blue Schools, the European Commission's ocean education programme, and was invited to present the Elba model at Blue Schools meetings in Sicily and Naples.
Storie in Battigia: Blue Schools Become a Book
The Blue Schools project also gave rise to "Storie in Battigia - Il respiro del mare", an illustrated book featuring twenty illustrated stories inspired by observations of the shoreline, created by fifth-grade pupils from the Giusti Comprehensive School on the Island of Elba. In 2026, thanks to Acqua dell'Elba's support for printing and distribution, the book became available on the website and in stores. Net proceeds go back to the school and its young authors.
Heroes of the Sea
During SEIF, a collaboration began with Green Heroes, the project conceived by Alessandro Gassmann. A series of articles dedicated to the Heroes of the Sea, individuals and organisations committed to protecting the sea, was published in il Venerdì di Repubblica with the Foundation's support.
Social Welfare
Social Project Co-Funding Call - Island of Elba 2026
In 2026, the Foundation adopted a new approach to supporting social initiatives: instead of providing grants to individual associations, it launched an open call for all non-profit organisations on the island. Six associations participated in the first edition. The Foundation allocated €10,000 in co-funding, with each organisation contributing at least an equivalent amount, bringing the total value of the three supported projects to over €64,000. The funded projects are:
- Pubblica Assistenza Porto Azzurro ODV (€5,000): a new specially equipped vehicle to transport people with disabilities and vulnerable individuals to healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centres and social care services across the island;
- Associazione Cure Palliative Isola d'Elba ODV (€3,000): an additional palliative care physician to strengthen home care for people with serious and chronic illnesses and their families;
- Diversamente Sani APS (€2,000): "Prevenzione Vicina 2026", four free cancer screening campaigns for residents.
Art
The Art Prize Collection Finds a Home
Ten years after the launch of the Acqua dell'Elba Art Prize in collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, the Foundation has given its collection a permanent home. On 28 June, during SEIF, the permanent exhibition "Premio Arte Acqua dell'Elba", curated by Professor Maria Cristina Galli, was inaugurated at the Foundation's headquarters in Marciana Marina. For the first time, works from nine editions were brought together in one space, representing the participation of more than 180 students. More than thirty received scholarships and over thirty artworks became part of the collection, which is now open to the local community and visitors to the island.
Art Odyssey
From 3 May to 12 September, the sailing boat Milanto sailed across the western Mediterranean as part of Art Odyssey, the art and peace project conceived by Lorenzo Cipriani, art historian, artist and writer, and promoted by the Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba together with Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte.
During their journey, Lorenzo Cipriani and skipper Valerio Bardi covered 2,600 nautical miles, reached 50 ports in five countries and visited more than 50 contemporary art organisations, promoting a vision of the Mediterranean as a place of peace, cultural exchange and shared histories. Throughout the journey, they carried the Third Paradise flag bearing the word "peace" in all the languages of the Mediterranean.
Scientific research also travelled on board through Tyrrhenos, a project developed with the Department of Biology at the University of Florence to study marine microorganisms capable of breaking down microplastics. Upon its return, from 12 to 19 September, Milanto became the first onboard artist residency in the Tuscan Archipelago, hosting four artists, with scientific curatorship by the Tuscan Archipelago Museum System and financial support from Fondazione Livorno. The journey will continue in 2027 in the eastern Mediterranean and in 2028 towards the Venice Biennale.
A Community Supporting the Foundation
Friends and Supporters
One year ago, during Green Week 2025, the Friends of Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba initiative was launched. Today, more than 500 people have chosen to make their support visible. In 2026, the first donation campaign was also launched in Acqua dell'Elba stores and online.
Every contribution supports projects dedicated to the environment, education, culture, social welfare and art on the Island of Elba. With a donation of up to €99, individuals become Friends of the Foundation; with a donation of €100 or more, they become Supporters. Donations can be made at fondazioneacquadellelba.org in the Donate Now section.