Isola d'Elba (the Island of Elba, the specific Tuscan Archipelago island 10km off the Piombino coast in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea) is the most historically fascinating single Italian island for the non-beach visitor and the most comprehensively beautiful single Italian island for the beach-and-hiking visitor under 3 hours from Florence. The specific Elba geography: 223km² (the third largest Italian island after Sicily and Sardinia); 148km of coastline; 8 municipalities (the Portoferraio (the capital), the Campo nell'Elba, the Marciana, the Marciana Marina, the Porto Azzurro, the Capoliveri, the Rio, and the Rio nell'Elba). And the Monte Capanne summit (1,019m, the highest single point in the Tuscan Archipelago whose specific cableway (the seggiovia a seggiolini, the open chairlift (the most specifically panoramic single Italian island chairlift viewpoint) from the Marciana village at 375m to the Monte Capanne summit at 1,019m: approximately €15 round-trip, open April-October)).
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Isola Elba: Napoleon, the Beaches, and the Wine
Napoleon's 300 Days on Elba
Napoleon on Elba (the specific exile period: May 3, 1814 to February 26, 1815, exactly 299 days): the most specifically productive single political exile in European history. The specific Napoleon Elba achievements: the road network (Napoleon ordered the construction of the specific Elba road system (the first paved road network on the island, the specific Napoleon road (the strada napoleonica that connected Portoferraio to Rio nell'Elba, previously accessible only by mule track) that the current Elba SS 102 road follows in large part)). The iron mine modernisation (the Napoleon reorganization of the specific Rio Elba iron mines (the Elba island iron mining tradition documented since the Etruscan period (the specific Etruscan iron extraction from the Capo Calamita (the magnetic cape, the name derived from the specific magnetite deposits whose specific magnetic effect on compass needles made the Capo Calamita the most specifically navigational landmark of the Tyrrhenian Sea)), the most important single Italian iron production source of the early 19th century)). And the Villa dei Mulini (the specific Napoleon residence in Portoferraio. Viale Napoleone 1, Portoferraio (€8, open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-19:00)): the most specifically personal single Napoleon Italian residence and the one whose specific garden (the giardino napoleonico, the formal garden that Napoleon designed himself (the specific documentary evidence: the Napoleon personal letter to his garden superintendent)) is the most specifically intimate single Italian Napoleonic monument.
Isola Elba: tours & tickets
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See availability & prices →We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.The Best Elba Beaches
The specific Elba beach ranking (the 3 beaches that every Elba visitor should know and how to access them): Fetovaia (the Campo nell'Elba municipality, the GPS: 42.7273°N, 10.1642°E): the most specifically beautiful single Elba beach (the specific narrow sand strip (approximately 200m long) enclosed by the specific granite headlands (the Punta di Fetovaia on the west and the specific unnamed headland on the east) whose specific turquoise water (the Fetovaia water color, the specific turquoise produced by the specific shallow sand bottom over the specific Elba granite rock (the bianco Elbano, the white Elba granite) that reflects the sunlight at the specific 35-45° angle) is the most photographed single Elba beach). Access by the specific Fetovaia road (the narrow asphalt road from the SS 102 at the Campo nell'Elba junction, the 2km descent with no passing bays that creates the specific traffic backup on the July-August peak days: arrive before 9:00 or after 17:30). Sansone (the Portoferraio municipality. GPS: 42.8298°N, 10.2631°E): the most specifically dramatic single Elba beach (the specific white pebble beach (the spiaggia di ciottoli bianchi, the pure quartz pebble beach whose specific white-on-turquoise visual is the most specifically Greek-island-like single Italian beach experience) accessible only by the specific 15-minute cliff path from the Portoferraio road or by sea (boat taxi from Portoferraio: approximately €15 one-way)). Campo all'Aia (the Marciana Marina municipality. GPS: 42.7952°N, 10.1641°E): the most family-appropriate single Elba sand beach with the most complete single beach service (the beach club, the children's play area, the shallow entry, and the specific Marciana Marina village (5 minutes on foot) with the most specifically affordable single Elba restaurant concentration.
The Aleatico di Portoferraio
The Aleatico dell'Elba DOC (the specific Elba dessert wine produced from the Aleatico grape, the specific Elba wine denomination (the DOC Elba Aleatico (the specific sweet red wine from the naturally partially dried Aleatico grape (the appassimento, the specific drying that concentrates the grape sugar and the grape's characteristic muscat-like aromatic profile)) that Napoleon specifically requested to be shipped to him during the Saint Helena exile (1815-1821), the specific historical documentation (the Saint Helena supply records of 1817-1820 list the "Aleatico from Elba" among the 12 wines shipped annually to the emperor's exile residence)): the most specifically historically connected single Italian wine and the one available in the Portoferraio wine shops for approximately €18-35 per 500ml bottle (the standard Aleatico format, the 500ml rather than the standard 750ml, because the high sugar content (the Brix 28-32°) makes the 500ml the appropriate single serving unit).
Q&A: Isola Elba
How do I get to Elba from Florence or Rome?
From Florence: the Trenitalia regional train from Florence SMN to Campiglia Marittima (1h45m, approximately €9) + the local train to Piombino Marittima (20 minutes) + the Toremar or Moby ferry to Portoferraio (60 minutes, approximately €15-20 per person or €60-100 with car). From Rome: the Trenitalia Intercity from Roma Termini to Campiglia Marittima (2h30m, approximately €20-35) + same Piombino-Portoferraio ferry connection. By car from Rome: the A1 to Livorno Sud then the SS 1 to Piombino (total approximately 3h15m). The specific July-August ferry booking note: the Piombino-Portoferraio ferry (the most popular single Toremar and Moby route) requires the 2-4 week advance booking for the car spaces in July-August, passenger-only tickets are available at shorter notice.