Overview

Italy’s Elba island, located just off the coast of Tuscany, is a destination that boasts sheer diversity of things to see and experience. The Elba Island is in Tuscany and is the most famous island of the Tuscan Archipelago that includes other six islands: Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa, Giglio, Giannutri, and Montecristo. On beautiful days when the sky is clear, if you look at the sea from the Tuscan coast, you see the profiles of the Tuscan islands over the horizon. That of Elba is the biggest and it doesn't even seem too far away.

The island is roughly 18 miles long and 11 miles wide, but without a straight road in sight. Traveling from one place to another often means climbing over a rocky hillside or through a dense forest, then down to the next pretty beach in town. Beaches range from white rock to pebble to sand and the crystal blue waters bursting with underwater scenery and life. Meanwhile, its interior is rugged and rustic, a magnet for active adventure seekers. History buffs can explore Etruscan sites from ancient Roman ruins to Napoleon’s houses and abandoned post industrial remains of a century-old iron industry. There are also plenty of shops in a variety of beautiful towns both high in the mountains or on the seafront. Taste fine seafaring cuisine paired with lovely island wines. The island has a true feeling of authenticity, it hasn’t succumbed to the inauthentic touristy vibe of some other more popular Italian beaches.

Museums and Archaeological Sites

Napoleon personally supervised the transformation of what had been a large farmhouse in the hills 3-miles southwest of Portoferraio into an elegant villa where he could escape the summer heat. This area, Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile, is now what is known as the best museums on the island of Elba. Both Napoleonic residences are in Portoferraio, where you can also visit the small but very important Napoleonic Antiques Museum, as well as the small Vigilanti theatre house, the Napoleon chose to have built from a deconsacrated church and changed into a place of entertainment.

Portoferraio's majestic highest hill is crowned by this largely intact, 16th-century Forte Falconet (1548), a key point, together with Fort Stella and Torre del Martello, in the defensive ring built around the town by Cosimo l de' Medici. From Piazzale Napoleone head uphill along Via del Falcone then bear right along a small winding path that leads to the fort.

Opened in 1988, the Museum of Archaeology is in the old salt store rooms of the Linguella Medicean Fortresses. Catalogued topographically, you can see Etruscan and Roman remains from all of the Tuscan Archipelago that go from the VIII century BC to the V century AD, clear evidence of the importance of Elba and the other islands in Mediterranean sea commerce. Remains like amphoras, vases, arms and instruments from shipwrecks, offshore fortresses, necropolis and pleasure villas, tell us of a century old culture that is explained in detail on the educational illustration panels to be found all over the museum.

The Archaeology Museum in Marciana reflects the nature of its being, the museum, the first of its kind in Elba, was opened in 1968 to give a home to the remains that came to ligt thanks to the excavation campaigns in all of Elba in that period. The museum houses a collection of many remains from the area of Marciana above all, and are all catalogued topographically on the base of where they were found. Thre are remains of lithic works from the STone age, Etruscan remains from the offshore fortress of Monte Castello in Procchio, other from the shipwreck of the Roman vessel known as Procchio I, from Monte Giove and Madonna del Monte, decorations from interment tombs from Monte Capanne, and, from more recent times, equipment and objects of a shipwreck around the XVIII century.

Rio's mining history dates from Etruscan times, with open-cast working continuing right up until 1982 when the mines closed. The Elba Museum of Island of Elba Minerals and Mineral Art is part of the island of Elba Mineral Park project. This museum charts the minding history and runs guided tours of the mining area by electric train – these include a chance to dig for minerals (hammers and plastic bags are provided) yourself. The historic mining archive, consisting of papers and documents about mining in Elba, is in the same building.

Cuisine

Elba cuisine is simple and authentic, and has much been influenced by the domination the island has undergone in the past, so much so that its typical dishes often combine both sea and land products. The eastern side of the island is famous for its cakes, while its choice white, red and sweet wines are becoming more and more popular.

Being an island, Elba has several fish restaurants. Every morning, fishermen go offshore and fish all day. Then, in the late afternoon, they bring their catch to the restaurants of the islands.

In some towns like Capoliveri and Porto Azzurro for example, the tables of the restaurants liven up the streets when the sun goes down, with the smell of food all around you. In Marciana Marina and Marina di Campo there are excellent seafood restaurants overlooking the water. In the charming streets of Portoferraio you can find inns and taverns passed on from generation to generation. For those who prefer meat dishes head to Marciana Alta where you’ll find several great options. Overall, restaurants and pizzerias are available most everywhere in Elba to suit all tastes and price ranges, even in the less touristy places.

Beaches

Elba's top beaches are too numerous to list, but Biodola, Sansone, Sant’Andrea, Fetovaia, Cavolia, and Felciaio are some top favorites. Most beaches have free areas where you can carve out a little space for a towel, or you can pay to rent a lounge chair and umbrella. The water is clear and warm enough for swimming from June to mid-October. Elba offers everything from long, sandy beaches, pebble or shingle ones, as well as many unexpected, often hidden, tiny coves.

For fine sandy beaches that are perfect for a relaxing day in the sun, two of the best known and most popular are La Biodola and Cavoli. Cavoli is on the southern side of the island, not far from the Commune of Marina di Camp; it is a long, sandy beach, where the sea is very shallow till quite far out, and the water is crystal clear, making it perfect for families with small children. Biodola is similar to Cavoli, in that it is a long beach, has facilities, and is great not only for lovers sunbathing, but also for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Portoferraio offers several smaller pebble and shingle beach, all truly stunning in nature. Padulella on the right of Capo Bianoc; Sansone, although very close to Portoferraio, it is hidden away and not easy to reach, making this beach very secluded; and Enfola, on the northern side of the island, famous for being the only beach to have been been formed by an isthmus.

And last but not least the several rocky bays scattered all over Elba. By this we mean really rugged parts of the coast, perfect for those who want to avoid any crowds. Without a doubt three of the most beautiful are Chiessi, Patresi and Capo Sant'Andrea, all of which are on the western side of the island past the Commune of Marciana. These beaches may be somewhat difficult to reach, but their intact beauty more than makes up for this.