Piombino

Piombino's paragliding launch sits on a low cliff right in town, on the coast facing south-southeast toward the island of Elba just offshore. It's a coastal soaring line rather than a thermal site: the cliff face runs barely 15-20 m above the water, so pilots ridge-soar along the shoreline toward Piazza Bovio and back rather than climbing away from it. The takeoff itself is tight, wedged between bushes on either side and overhead, which leaves only a narrow strip to launch from — using the lower part of the slope gives the most working room. Wind off the sea here regularly builds to 25-35 km/h, stronger than many pilots expect from a description that just says 'south-east breeze', so checking a live station reading before committing is essential. Because the cliff is so low, there's no safe intermediate landing along the soaring run — the beach below is the only option, and it stays busy with swimmers through summer.

Launch & conditions

Launch from the lower part of the cliff face, south-southeast facing, where the gap between the bushes gives the most usable space — the upper line is tighter and less forgiving.

Getting there & local rules

The launch is a short walk from Piombino's castle, right in town — park nearby and you're on the cliff edge within minutes.

Local rules & hazards

No special flying restrictions apply, but the beach below doubles as the landing zone and stays busy with swimmers in summer, so give them a wide margin on approach.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Piombino, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Piombino with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.