It all began in the seventies on an old farm estate located on the South East  tip of the Island of Elba , at a place named  Ripalte.The surrounding landscape was a myriad of shades and colours resulting from the striking contrast between the rusty red of the soil and the deep green of the tree tops.

An island within the island. The farm was built in 1896 by the Marquis Tobler who came to the island from Switzerland because of his innate passion for vine growing. The whole area, that included the biggest agricultural estate on the island of Elba (the famous Tobler farm and later Ripalte farm) had been completely abandoned by the successive owners whom, having received an immense lot (668,000 m of buildings-practically the size of a small town) decided, for economic and administrative reasons, not to pursue with the running of the estate.
The transformation of such a natural asset into a holiday resort was the only option that could save the area from certain destruction.

The land area which included the Ripalte Farm could be considered, and indeed still is, a heritage of un-estimable environmental and cultural value, that due to its sheer size ( 450 hectares), preservation features and microcosm varieties was considered of utmost importance to the Island territory: almost an island within the island.

In 1977 the Vallorita company from Verona ( now Ripalte Estate), recognised the natural and tourist value of such a unique and amazing environment and with great foresight took over the ownership giving it the captivating name Costa dei Gabbiani ( Gull Coast- deriving  from the fact that thousands of gulls nest in this area every year) and began work to transform it into a holiday resort.

The agricultural out buildings were so run down that they were to be destroyed but it would have been a great shame to knock down such perfect examples of  rural, Tuscan architecture and so it was decided that the buildings be restored and transformed into comfortable apartments. Even the 19th Century Villa ( summer residence for the Marquis families – Tobler- Theodoli- Quintavalle) was  in a dreadful state of abandon.
Happily today it has been carefully restored and now accommodates a small hotel with fourteen rooms.

After the closure of the mines the surrounding landscape became wild and barren and in 1998 two terrible land fires further damaged  the integrity of this once splendid landscape.
Now thanks to the sheer power of  Nature all of that damage has now been hidden. The agricultural tradition that was once fundamental for the estate is now being re created. The new vines that have been planted on 7 hectares of the ground will produce the Aleatico wine that this area has been famous for since the beginning of the last century.

The restoration of such an important artistic, cultural and naturalistic heritage has been a difficult task especially due to the fact that careful attention has been paid to in no way alter the delicate equilibrium of the environment. The beauty of this holiday resort is that it has been built in total respect of the Nature that surrounds it.