A bit of history of the Costa dei Gabbiani

History of the Farmhouse Estate on Elba

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.

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 farm estate on the island of Elba (the famous Tobler farm and later Ripalte farm) had been completely abandoned by the successive owners whom, having 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 now named Tenuta delle Ripalte estate took over the ownership and began work to transform it into a holiday resort.

The agricultural out buildings were restored and transformed into comfortable apartments of varying shapes and sizes. Even the 19th Century Villa ( summer residence for the Marquis families – Tobler- Theodoli- Quintavalle) underwent careful restoration so as to accommodate a small hotel with ten rooms. The sitting rooms and the dining room were restored and decorated with elegance and taste. The ancient cellar with its vaulted ceiling was transformed into a small restaurant.

The beauty of this holiday resort,  is that it has been built in total respect of the Nature that surrounds it.