Open left menu elba. Resorts of Italy. Elba Island How to get to Elba from Rome

The small charming island of Elba is located, famous for the fact that the restless Napoleon Bonaparte served his first exile here. Of course, he escaped after a few months, but even on such a small piece of land he managed to declare himself emperor and managed to “reign.” Today Elba is a diverse resort, where it is worth coming not only for a bronze tan, although the beaches here are excellent: located in picturesque bays, landscaped, surrounded by palm trees and pine trees, covered with small pebbles mixed with sand.

Elba seems to have absorbed the well-recognized and very special flair of Italian resorts. Life here flows slowly and measuredly, people are in no hurry. Local architecture delights with a variety of styles, nature with the brightness of colors, and the sea with eternal azure with reflections of the midday sun dissolved in the depths.

How to get to Elbe

You can get to the Elbe in two ways - by water and by air. There are no flights from Russian cities to the island. There are no planes flying there from Rome either, so you will have to create complex routes.

By ferry

The starting point to Elba by sea is the port of Piombino Marittima in Piombino, from where ferries from Corsica Ferries (office site in English), Moby Lines (office site in English), Blu Navy (office site) go to the island in English), Toremar (office site in English) The journey will take no more than an hour. The ferry also carries cars, which is convenient for independent tourists. Ticket prices start from 40 EUR (1 passenger plus 1 car). Prices on the page are for April 2019.

By plane

The local La Pila airport receives flights from Italian and European cities: Milan, Geneva, Zurich, Munich, London, Dusseldorf. Charters of small airlines Silver Air, Intersky, Skywork fly to Elba, but only during the holiday season, which begins in mid-spring.

By train

The ferry terminal is located next to the Piombino Marittima railway station. Trains go there from Livorno Central Station, Livorno Centrale, on Piazza Dante. The second option is to take the train from Pisa, leaving from the Pisa Centrale station (address - Piazza della Stazione) literally every hour. Transportation is carried out by Trenitalia (office site in English). Ticket price is 10 EUR, travel time is from 1.5 to 3 hours.

By bus

Elbe Hotels

Despite the extensive selection of hotels of different star ratings, at the height of the season it is not so easy to rent a room at an adequate price - in 1-2 months everything in popular booking systems is already booked. On the island you can stay in 4-5* hotels with a completely autonomous infrastructure, which includes restaurants with their own enoteca, swimming pools, parking lots, tennis courts and other amenities. As a rule, they are located a couple of minutes walk from the beaches. For example, in a good “four” a nice double room with a sea view costs 230 EUR per day.

Relatively budget hotels costing 80-100 EUR per night are especially in demand. For this money they offer free transfer from the airport and breakfast. The room, however, is quite small, and you need to walk 10-20 minutes to the beach. Apartments and bed and breakfasts cost 40-70 EUR depending on the season.

Beaches of Elbe

Elbe has more than 70 white sandy and sandy-pebble beaches, framed by majestic cliffs and decorated with rich Mediterranean flora. The coastal waters are not inferior to them: underwater “gardens” stretch along the entire island, attracting divers.

The most popular is Barabarka Beach with crystal clear water in the lagoon and amazing views of Stella Bay. True, the infrastructure here is not very good - a couple of parking lots and a bar. But still, it is constantly packed with vacationers. Another beach favored by tourists is Le Guaye, famous for its pink pebbles. It is perfect for families with children thanks to its gently sloping entrance to the sea and the soft surface of the shore. Within walking distance there are several cafes and a park where you can hide in the shade from the midday heat.

Next to “Le Guaye” is “Padulella”, where a hiking trail leads. The place is quite picturesque and secluded, just for those who want to be away from crowded beaches.

The most “hit” among Elba’s guests is the sandy “Cavoli”. Thanks to its location in a bay sheltered from the wind, the water there is warmer and the swimming season begins earlier. The infrastructure is well developed: sun loungers for rent, catamaran rides, delicious lunch and excellent wine in beach bars.

Marciano Marina, 20 km west of Portoferraio, is also famous for its clean beaches. The highest point of the island is also located here - Mount Capanne. A couple more popular beaches: pebble “Cavo” and sandy “Lakona”. An almost ideal environment for a comfortable stay has been created there - shops, parking lots, restaurants, attractions, and sports grounds are open.

Lovers of landscapes and animals will love the Rock Cave (Grotta dell’acqua), inside which there is a pebble beach with a fresh spring, favored by birds. By boat you can also get to the “beach of blue stones”, turquoise from a special type of pebbles, glistening in the north wind “Tramontana” or the northeast “Grecal”. The path to the islet of Porto Caccamo can be reached in a couple of minutes from Marina di Campo by boat or pedalo to immerse yourself in the blissful silence of secluded beaches.

Diving

Experienced divers and beginners come to Elba to see the beauty of the underwater world of the Ligurian Sea. This is due to excellent visibility, suitable water temperature and a variety of underwater fauna and flora. The waters near the coast are home to toothy barracudas, huge lobsters, and grouper fish of the most unusual colors.

There are dive clubs on the island that offer full training and a license. Centro Sub Corsaro, located in De Paretti Bay, has a museum of the French diver Jacques Maillol. Many of the underwater excursion routes that are recommended in this place were created by him personally. Diving in Elba (office site in English) teaches scuba diving to children, and there is a store there with all the necessary equipment for diving.

What to bring

Definitely, a tourist should allocate a separate amount for purchases so that the soul can roam properly in the shops, shopping centers and markets of the Elbe. Wine, cheese, pasta and olive oil top the list of purchases. It is impossible to leave the island without a couple of bottles of Chianti or a circle of aromatic Pecorino Toscano. The abundance of local meat delicacies will surprise even seasoned gourmets. Tuscan ham, sopressata, finocchione, and dozens of types of salami and bacon beckon on the shelves with their appetizing appearance.

Hunters for branded clothing and shoes have a direct route to the shopping centers of Portoferraio. Anyone who craves color and wants to buy something special needs to walk through the small shops and look at the markets. For a very reasonable price they sell high-quality leather goods, jewelry and locally produced perfume. Souvenirs with the image of Napoleon: T-shirts, postcards, magnets, mugs and other small items are suitable as pleasant gifts for relatives and colleagues.

Elbe cuisine and restaurants

You can have a meal in a traditional restaurant serving beautifully served delicacies, a more affordable trattoria specializing in home cooking, a pizzeria or a burger joint. In a place with an open terrace and sea views, it’s nice to spend a romantic evening and drink wine to the sound of the surf. Beach bars offer dozens of types of cocktails and light snacks.

Table favorites are dishes from numerous types of fish: dentex, bream, merou, golden pagra, white sargus, as well as crustaceans. The masterpiece of island cuisine is incredibly tasty - fish soup "cacciucco", for the main course you should try rice with cuttlefish ink and squid, marinated fish centracanth, spaghetti in fish sauce, boiled octopus, roast blackbirds, grilled meat or "gurguglione" - rich soup from vegetables and home-baked bread.

For dessert: “Schiaccia Briaca” cake with pine nuts and raisins, soaked in Aleatico wine, or an equally wonderful “Corollo” - an airy ring cake. The Easter schiaccia cake, flavored with anise seeds, will also not disappoint.

The cost of dinner with wine for two in a mid-range restaurant starts from 45-50 EUR. A salad and a main course are quite enough - the portions are quite impressive. A snack of pizza, pasta or burger with a drink in a trattoria or pizzeria will cost 10-15 EUR.

Entertainment and attractions

The heritage of the ancient era is the ruins of the Villa Le Grotte (SP26, 57037 Portoferraio LI), built during the Roman Empire. Once upon a time a rich patrician lived there. In Portoferraio, the main attraction is the walls and towers of the medieval fort, built by Cosimo I de' Medici to protect against Turkish raids. The menacing appearance of the stone fortifications gives a complete picture of the military architecture of that time: laconic, stern and even gloomy. On the Via del Volterraio towards Rio nel Elba stands the Volterraio Castle. The Etruscans began to build this ancient stronghold; during the reign of Appiani, it defended the island from pirates.

In the Mon Serrato gorge, in a cave church, a unique icon of the Black Madonna is kept.

In the very center of Portoferraio stands the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in the 16th century and is famous for the fact that Napoleon was declared emperor of the island here. Another interesting temple in the capital is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture - the Church of Saint Stefano alle Trane.

The main cultural site of the island is the open-air museum created by the artist Italo Bolano (Portoferraio - Loc.San Martino). On an area of ​​10,000 sq. m exhibited the master's works: sculptural compositions, paintings, panels. All this can be viewed for free, while enjoying the aroma and view of lush Mediterranean vegetation.

To visit the Elbe and not walk through Napoleonic places is bad manners. At Villa San Martino (Localita San Martino, 57037 Portoferraio LI), the summer residence of the emperor, today there is a museum where furniture, paintings, weapons, and family heirlooms are collected. Palazzo Mulini (Piazzale Napoleone, 57037 Portoferraio LI) was Napoleon's winter residence. The building stands on a rocky shore, offering magnificent views of island Italy.

The sea harbours, embankments and streets of Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Marina di Campo, Marciana Marina are a wonderful illustration of the unforgettable flavor of the Mediterranean.

Among the natural attractions, Lake Terranera (Via Capo D’Arco, 57036 Porto Azzurro LI) should be highlighted, separated from the sea by a thin strip of land that acts as an impromptu beach. If you wish, you can take the cable car to the top of Monte Capanne and admire the panoramic view of the surrounding area or visit museums in the old mines where iron was once mined.

Weather

The holiday season on the island begins at the end of April and lasts until October. The hottest time is in the summer months. Already in June, the coast is filled with tourists, although the water is not yet warm enough for comfortable swimming, and in July, August and September it is difficult to find free space on popular beaches.

It rarely rains in summer and autumn; the main period of precipitation occurs in winter. The mild climate makes Elbe suitable for holidays at any time of the year. Outside the swimming season, it makes sense to come here for educational purposes: wander the streets of towns, climb to observation platforms, look into palaces and temples.

An endless horizon, golden beaches caressed by clear sea waters, picturesque cliffs immersed in dense greenery... This is Elbe. The island, located in the Tuscan archipelago, is washed in the north by the Tyrrhenian Sea in the south. On the east coast is the Piombino Canal, and the Corsican Canal separates it to the west from Corsica.

Probably Napoleon, who was once exiled here, could consider himself lucky. Today everyone would agree to such an exile. More than a million tourists come every year to plunge into the warm sea waters, wander among the colorful landscapes, and be enchanted by the ancient history of the island of Elba. Reviews from people who vacationed in this attractive corner are most enthusiastic. The climate here is almost everywhere Mediterranean, with the exception of the Capanne Mountain region, where winters are generally cool.

Many Mediterranean civilizations have left their cultural traces. For the Etruscans it was an inexhaustible source of wealth. Already in the eighth century, iron was mined here, processed in furnaces that worked day and night, and iron was exported around the entire Mediterranean basin. The Romans inherited the steel industry, began granite mining, discovered a variety of landscapes and healing muds, and built the Baths of San Giovanni.

History has decreed that the island of Elba has more than once become the scene of important events. It was one of the centers of winemaking and Pliny the Elder called it “the island of fine wine.” Ships loaded with amphorae with wonderful wines transported them to different parts of the vast Roman Empire. Many amphorae can be seen in the archaeological museums of the cities of Portoferraio and Marciana, as well as other amazing finds that tell the story of ancient shipping. In enchanting places on the shores of the bays, the luxurious patrician villas of Linguella, Grotto, and Capo Castello grew, the ruins of which still make an indelible impression.

In the Middle Ages, the island of Elba belonged to the Pisa Maritime Republic. The mining of iron ore and granite did not stop during that period. Many columns, created by skilled stonemasons from granite quarried on the island, decorated the Piazza de Miracoli in Pisa. The culture of the Pisan period is represented by some beautiful elegant Romanesque churches and the tower of St. Giovanni in Compo, built on a huge granite boulder, but above all, the powerful "fortezza" in Marciana, the fortress of Voltarraio in Portoferraio, built in Etruscan times and reconstructed in Pisan times.

In 1548, the island of Elba passed to I and built the fortified city of Portoferraio - a true pearl of military urban planning. There was such perfect harmony between sea, land and architectural structures that it was originally called Cosmopoli (Universal City).

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Spaniards, who settled on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Porto Azzuro, built the impressive fort of San Giacomo, today secluded and proudly rising on a hill, various chapels, the temple of Our Lady of Montserrat on a dolomite mountain.

In the eighteenth century, the island was contested by the Austrians, Germans, English and French through frantic diplomatic negotiations and bitter fighting. In 1802 it became a French possession. After the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1814, Napoleon, who forcibly resigned his imperial powers, was exiled to the island. During the months he lived here, he introduced a number of economic and social reforms, greatly improving the lives of the islanders.

Today, the island of Elba is still famous throughout the world for its excellent wines and is a favorite tourist destination.

Considering the history of the island of Elba (Italian: Elba, Latin: Ilva), it must be said that the stay of Emperor Napoleon, the most prestigious owner of this island, for eight months made Elba the pearl of the coast of Tuscany (Italy).

Napoleon on the Elbe

On a May evening in 1814, a British frigate anchored in the bay of Portoferraio. Napoleon arrived on board to inspect the views of his place of imprisonment. After the treaty signed following the Battle of Fontainebleau, the British offered the defeated French emperor various places of exile. But he chose Elba, remembering the strong hand of the Roman Empire, Elba, from whose granites the foundations of the Pantheon in Rome were built.

Walking around the island, the emperor found places reminiscent of his native Corsica. This similarity was decisive in choosing the place of exile and fulfilling the terms of the peace treaty between France and England, which allowed Napoleon to retain his imperial title. For a few months, Elbe became the French Empire again, but with an area of ​​224 square kilometers.

Elba Island Italy

Portoferraio Bay, where Napoleon once landed, is today a picturesque harbor where modern yachts moor in front of chic boutiques and kiosks selling Christian Gelati souvenirs. In the mornings, in cozy coffee shops located in the harbor, the local population enjoys ristretto coffee, and in the afternoon, only a warm wind blows on the streets - everyone is relaxing, taking a siesta...

In any of the Elba souvenir shops you can find a bust of Napoleon, souvenir plates with his image, glass balls, inside of which a small but important figurine of Napoleon is hidden, and even... stuffed animals of the French emperor! But in order to thoroughly get acquainted with the history of the imprisonment of this great commander, it is worth taking a look at the local museum dedicated to the life history of such a famous person. According to the museum's director, Robert Martinelli, Napoleon never had any intention of staying on Elba; he always hoped that he would return to the mainland, to his native France.

To give you a more thorough insight into the life of Napoleon, it is also worth taking a look at the Palais de Moulin - a building built in the bourgeois style, its windows offer pleasant views of the hills of Portoferraio harbour, the sea and the horizon. Compared to traditional French castles of that era, the terraces and rooms of the Palais Moulin look quite ascetic.

Modern historians have carried out enormous work to organize the historical heritage of Napoleon; here they have meticulously reproduced the landscapes of Saint-Cloud - a palace on the outskirts of Paris, where in 1799 a coup d'état led by Napoleon Bonaparte was carried out, which became the end of the French Revolution and opened the door to Napoleon path to emperors. In historical information, this event is called the “Coup of the 18th Brumaire”. There are also scaled exhibitions of the royal palace in Compiegne and the Battle of Fontainebleau.

Napoleon's apartments were located upstairs in the palace. There was also his bedroom, where during his nightly dreams nostalgic pictures of the battle often came to him. By the way, for the curious, we note that the great commander preferred to sleep on an ordinary soldier’s camp bed, and not in the huge royal feather beds. Often the emperor slept in the garden, in a military tent, which was specially pitched in one of the clearings. It will be interesting to look into the library, where many books have bindings decorated with the golden letter “N”. And on the chest of drawers there is a clock that showed the time to the great emperor. On them Napoleon is depicted as a cowboy, standing firmly with both feet on the globe of the world. A tour of the museum can take you all day, bringing back memories of the literary hero - Don Quixote, whom Napoleon resembled when he based himself on Elba.

In the evening, over the province of Porto Azzurro (Italian: Porto Azzurro), which is located on the Elbe, the sun descends to rest, illuminating the empty embankments with warm rays.

The inhabitants of Eba are very grateful to Napoleon for the sources of fresh water that appeared during his stay on the island, for the roads laid instead of mountain paths, for the olive groves, vineyards and chestnut trees that he ordered to be planted, which still adorn the roadside landscapes. According to the native inhabitants of Elba, Bonaparte did more for the island during his eight months on the island than all those who were in power here before him!

It is said that by developing such vigorous activity, Napoleon tried to deceive the British jailers by declaring that he had accepted his fate... ? But reading the texts of the emperor’s manuscripts, preserved on the island of St. Helena, where he died, we can say with confidence that Bonaparte loved Elba very much, it was she who gave him the strength to return to power again in 1815, after exile... And the island of Elba in During the reign of Napoleon, he became independent for the first time and received freedom.

Elba useful information

On the occasion of the bicentenary of Bonaparte’s stay on the island of Elba, a tourism office was opened (tel. 01.42.66.03.96), and a website was also organized - www.napoleoneimperatoreelba2014.it.

Elba how to get there

The island can be reached by ferry from the port of Piombino, which will take about an hour. The Italian city of Florence, which is two hours away, is the ideal starting point for a flight to Elba, here you will be served by Air France, the price is € 150 round trip. You can also use the services of Easyjet, which will deliver you to Elba via Pisa in about an hour, the price is about 100 €.

How to get around To get around the Elbe, you should use a car rental service. To choose the best option for yourself, try visiting www.locationdevoiture.fr.

Elba Island Hotels

1. Classic - massive Hermitage Hotel, tel. 00.39.0565.9740, which offers quality service and beautiful views of the beach. Price - from 300 €.

2. Hotel Plaza, tel.00.39.0565.95010, located on the hills of Porto Azzurro. Price - from € 100.

3. Cozy boutique hotel Le Stanze del Casale (tel. 00.39.0565.944.340), near Portoferraio. It is a tastefully decorated, comfortable cottage, decorated with paintings and surrounded by a large garden. Here you will be offered a Thai massage, a luxurious French brunch, a warm welcome. Price - about 150 €.

Elba Island restaurants

1. Osteria Locanda Cecconi (tel. 32.91.38.11.59) - a restaurant with a jazzy atmosphere, serving fresh, delicious fish and dishes from local market products. Here you will find quality homemade Italian cuisine, and the owner of the restaurant has a cheerful disposition and speaks fluent French. Price: lunch will cost 30 €.

2. Ristorante Capo Nord (tel. 05.65.99.69.83) - very elegant, decorated with a beautiful terrace, located right on the beach. The menu includes delicious seafood and fish, desserts based on haute cuisine recipes. Price: to visit you will need about 50 €.

3. Altaluna (tel. 34.76.41.75.92), address: Porto Azzuro, au 2 Vicolo Montebello. Mini-bistro, the interiors of which are made in the style of the American fifties. The bar is open all year round, and this is where you can try the best mojito on Elba.

4. In the evenings you can dine at some excellent pizzeria, in an unpretentious rural setting...

Diving on the Elbe

It is worth checking out Centro Sub Corsaro (tel. 05.65.93.50.66), located in the village of Pareti near Capoliveri. Here you will find mythical dives, the routes of which were laid out by the French diver Jacques Mayol. The small museum organized in honor of his memory is also worth visiting (even if you are not a fan of diving).

Proximity to the mainland, a huge number of beaches for every taste, amazing nature, historical heritage and the availability of everything necessary for a wonderful holiday make Elba very popular among Italians and tourists from different countries. But Russians are still rare guests on this beautiful island.

If we talk about the size of the island, it is really small: only 27 km long and 18 km wide, almost one and a half times smaller than St. Petersburg. The coastline is very indented, its length is approximately 150 km. The undoubted advantage of Elba is its location - the distance from the mainland to the island is about 10 km. This location has a beneficial effect on the climate of the island, there is no sweltering heat, at the same time it is sunny, there are practically no cold winds or cyclones, the average air temperature is +23-30 degrees, the water remains warm (about +20 degrees) almost until October. The holiday season begins in April and lasts until mid-October.

Even when looking at a map of the island, it is clear that the relief of the Elbe is very diverse. Elba is the Italian Crimea. Mediterranean forests give way to valleys with neat rows of vineyards; The green hills that cover the island give way to a mountainous landscape with moorland, among which rises Mount Cappane (1017 meters), the highest point of the island. Be sure to get a bird's eye view of the island! We recommend taking a short 20-minute journey along the route, which will take you to Monte Cappana. Small fishing villages and beautiful ancient cities give the island an unusual flavor; there are even castles and fortresses. Well, if we talk about the coast, then here picturesque rocky bays alternate with unique multi-colored sand and pebble beaches - this is not a complete list of what may interest even a sophisticated tourist. In addition, the ecology here is excellent; any production has been prohibited on the island for a century.

The island is divided into eight municipalities, the main one - the capital of the island, Portoferraio - is home to 12 thousand people, the total population of the island is 32,162 inhabitants. The main resorts of Elba are Portoferraio, Porto Azurro, Rio Marina, Capoliveri, Cavo. About one and a half million tourists visit the Elbe every year.

In recent years, the island has become a national park protected by the state. Despite the fact that Elba is considered an elite resort that is very popular in Europe, you can have a wonderful vacation on this island with a fairly modest budget.

Flight time:
(flights to Pisa airport)
from Moscow - from 3 hours 40 minutes.
from St. Petersburg - from 5 hours 55 minutes. (1-3 transfers)
from Kazan - from 7 hours 40 minutes. (1-3 transfers)
from Yekaterinburg - from 7 hours 50 minutes. (1-3 transfers)
from Novosibirsk - from 9 hours 20 minutes. (1-2 transfers)

Current time in Portoferraio:
(UTC 0)

A distinctive feature of Elbe is its coastline, which has a huge number of beaches to suit every taste: sandy beaches with white, black, pink sand; pebble; rocky; with developed infrastructure and completely wild beaches in secluded coves. According to various sources, there are from 60 to 80 different beaches on Elbe! All Elbe beaches are municipal.

How to get to Elbe

There are several ways to get to the Elbe

By plane

This is the fastest and most convenient way to arrive on the island. Elba has its own small airport, which is located in the village of La Pila, 2 km from Marina di Campo. It is a private civilian airport open to commercial traffic.

In the summer, the airport becomes very busy, with planes of foreign and Italian airlines flying here regularly from many major European cities.

The land route involves two parts of the route, the first part of the route goes by land and should take you to the port of Piombino, the second part by sea to the main port and capital of the island of Elba - Portoferraio. If you prefer the land route, then be prepared to use different modes of transport and several transfers.

You can get to the port of Piombino:

By train

The main route to Elba starts from Pisa station (the second option is Livorno), trains arrive there from different parts of Italy. For example, you can drive from Florence to Pisa in 1.5 hours. The cheapest tariff from will cost you 8 euros (as of 2014). Next, from Pisa you buy a ticket to Piombino. Please note that some trains do not reach the port of Piombino, but take you to the town of Campiglia Marittima, where you need to go to the next platform and board with the same ticket to the local train. She usually arrives 7-10 minutes after the train arrives. The final stop is a small train station - Piombino Mare, which is located right in front of the port from where the ferries depart.

There is a direct train from Rome to Campiglia Marittima station, travel time is 2 hours 25 minutes. You can also take the train from Rome to Piombino with a change at this station, the journey time will be 2 hours 45 minutes.

By bus

During the summer, you can reach Piombino using tourist buses that depart from various cities in the provinces of Milan and Florence. For example: Passenger transportation on the route “Florence - Piombino” is carried out by the company. But this travel option will be longer and more tiring.

If you are using a combined route, then after reaching Campiglia by train, you can then use the bus service. Buses to the port of Piombino run every 20-30 minutes.

How to get from Piombino to Elba

On a ferryboat

Four shipping companies make voyages to Elba from the port of Piombino Marittima several times a day: , and . Comfortable ferries start running from 6:00 until approximately 21:30 in the evening. The cost of the trip is approximately the same for everyone - 14 euros. The cheapest option from the Mobi company is 13 euros. The crossing time to Portoferraio is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes, to Rio Marina - 45 minutes.

Ferry tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminal, which is located to the right of the train exit, or booked in advance on the shipping campaign website. Please note that Corsica Sardinia Ferries allows you to use ticket information stored on your smartphone and does not require you to print it (as of 2014). During the summer, ferry service is very good, but there are windows, so it is better to check the schedule in advance when planning your trip. Outside the tourist season, in winter, ferries run less frequently, once every two to three hours.

If you are traveling by car, we recommend booking your ferry tickets in advance so you can avoid any problems and be confident of boarding the ferry especially between 25 April - 1 May and all weekends in the summer. Early booking also has its advantage; you can compare prices from all four shipping companies and choose the most suitable option.

On a catamaran

For those who travel without a car, an alternative to a leisurely ferry can be a high-speed boat - a catamaran "". Travel time is only 30 minutes, and the fare is 12 euros.

If you wish to travel with your car, booking ferry tickets is always advisable. If you do not want to take your car to Elba, you can leave it in Piombino - there are paid and free guarded parking lots on the port territory.

When choosing a convenient means and time of crossing, you should also take into account the bus schedule from Portoferraio (where most ferries arrive), if you do not plan to stop in this city, but want to go further. The last bus around the island in the direction of Lacona leaves at 19:30, at 20:00 the bus leaves for Capoliveri. The cost of the bus ranges from 2 to 3 euros. We recommend planning your route in such a way that you can get to the island before 19:00!

Photos of Elbe

Getting around the Elbe

Elba has excellent transport links with all major cities of the island. Suburban routes and bus schedules in the summer can be viewed; on weekends and holidays the schedule changes to.

The summer schedule of the Portoferraio city line can be viewed.

From June to September, additional services from Marebus are introduced on Elba, the so-called sea buses, which run from the major cities of the island (Portoferraio, Marciana, Capoliveri and Rio Nell Elba) to the most popular beaches. They are easy to recognize - they are blue buses with a dolphin emblem.

The cost of travel on public transport ranges from 2 euros for a single trip to 22 euros when purchasing a ticket for all city and suburban lines. You can purchase such a ticket at the ATL offices (Azienda Trasporti Livornesi).

History and sights of the Elbe

The Elbe attracts not only with its unique and picturesque nature - inquisitive tourists will find many interesting historical and cultural monuments on the Elbe.

The first mention of this island can be found in Homer's Odyssey; according to legend, the Argonauts landed on the island while searching for the Golden Fleece. But if you go to Archaeological Museum in Marcana, you can see finds from Paleolithic times, which indicate that the history of this island dates back to ancient times.

During the period of antiquity, the Elbe, in Greek Ephalia (Aethalia), that is, “fiery”, “smoky”, received its name due to the mining and processing of iron ore. Huge deposits of iron were an inexhaustible source of wealth for the Etruscans. Having visited Elba Island Mountain Park- an interesting museum with a rich exhibition of minerals, you can not only see the mines in which the Etruscans mined iron ore for five centuries, but, armed with special tools, you will go in search of minerals that you can take home as a souvenir.

After the decline of Etruscan culture, the Romans turned the island into a naval base, continued iron mining, and also discovered granite, healing mud, and, of course, excellent wine on the island, which was sent in large quantities throughout the Mediterranean. Amphoras with wine recovered from sunken ships, as well as household items, weapons and other finds from the Roman period, you can see in the archaeological museums of Elbe.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, for several centuries Elba belonged to the maritime Republic of Pisa. In the 16th century, the island passed to the French Medici dynasty, during whose reign the unique fortified city of Portoferraio appeared.

In the eighteenth century, a fierce struggle for the island again unfolded - the fate of the Elbe was of interest to many: Austrians, Germans, British and French... Thus began the famous French period, which most of us know well. Elba became Napoleon Bonaparte's elegant prison. Napoleon's exile lasted only ten months (1814-1815), but during this short time on the island, he set the direction for the development of Elbe for centuries to come. As a result of the reforms, a division into municipalities appeared, the mining industry was transformed, roads were built, and wine production and exports increased. Two residences of Napoleon have survived to this day: Villa San Martino and Palazzo Mulini, which have become National Museums.

In 1860, after the War of Independence, Elba became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Attractions

Entertainment

Parks and Recreation

Private guides on the Elbe

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with the Elbe in more detail.
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Beaches of Elbe

Beach holidays are always a classic holiday by the sea. There are not just many beaches on the Elbe, but a lot thanks to the rugged coastline. In different sources you can find a figure from 70 to 150 beaches. With such a large number, it is very easy to get confused, especially since the island is not large and during the day you can visit beaches in opposite corners of the island. Therefore, before choosing which beach to go to, determine for yourself what qualities your ideal beach should have. It would seem that nothing could be simpler - a beach holiday... But in relation to the Elbe, with its diversity, you should pay attention to some details.

Distance

When choosing a hotel or vacation spot, decide how you will move around the Elbe. How important will the proximity of the beach be to you? If you have ground transportation, then it will not be difficult for you to get to almost any beach on the island. But you should remember that on many beaches there are only paid parking lots, and you won’t be able to park your car along the road due to the lack of a minimum parking space. In addition, in the morning and evening on the Elbe, traffic jams are considered a common occurrence. The roads are very narrow and there are serpentine roads, so when everyone is going to the beach or returning from the beach, traffic becomes very difficult. The ideal vehicle in this situation is a two-wheeler.

All these problems disappear if you rent a boat or yacht. As is often the case on the islands of volcanic Italy, not all beaches are equally accessible from land, so the advantage of water transport is also the opportunity to get to the most closed and less crowded beaches, which can only be reached by water.

If you do not plan to travel around the island by car or bicycle, pay attention to the special “ sea ​​buses”, which ply around the island from large settlements to popular beaches.

Well, if this option doesn’t suit you, don’t worry, next to any settlement or hotel located along the coastline there are definitely several beaches, among which you can find the one that suits you best. Of these easily accessible beaches, we can recommend the following:

Beach view

The beaches of Elbe are a unique phenomenon, the main advantage of which is the clearest water and the diversity of their natural cover. The fact is that Elbe has all types of beaches: sandy (white, pink and black sand), pebble, sand-pebble, rocky, concrete and rocky. If you are vacationing with children, then it is better to exclude concrete, rocky beaches and beaches with rocky entry into the sea. On rocky beaches, it is highly advisable to use special beach shoes that will protect your feet from sharp stones and slightly reduce the risk of slipping.

When choosing a beach, pay attention to landscape features, location and length. On Elbe there are long, straight, open beaches, there are small cozy coves that are surrounded by greenery, and there are inaccessible intimate beaches, the descent to which can be very difficult.

For lovers of naturalism, there are interesting beaches in different parts of the island. As a rule, these are any semi-desert bays that can only be reached from the sea. But there are also places that can be reached on foot or by transport, and which have been a favorite destination for nudists for decades. The most popular nudist beaches and cliffs:

Infrastructure

If you are a lover of a comfortable holiday with all the amenities, think about what additional services you need and what you can sacrifice? After this, it will be easier to find a beach taking into account your wishes. If it is important for you to have a developed infrastructure on the beach: parking, restaurant/bar, sun loungers, umbrellas, swimming equipment rental, all kinds of instructors and schools for teaching various types of water recreation, then you should pay attention to these beaches:

True, the attendance of such beaches at the height of the season can spoil the impression of Elbe due to the large influx of vacationers.

In addition to well-equipped coastal areas developed by tourists, there are charming wild beaches that will be a real discovery for you, giving you a relaxing holiday and unity with nature:

Direction of the wind

The secret to finding a beach on Elbe where the sea will be calm and crystal clear is to determine the direction of the wind. By accurately determining where the wind is blowing today, you can choose a beach on the opposite side of the island. Locals always advise to keep two beaches in mind: one on the north side of the island, the other on the south, then you will never be disappointed with the beautiful beaches of Elba. For example, if the scirocco (southwest wind) is blowing, choose from the northern beaches in the Portoferraio area (Le Ghiaie, or La Padulella, Capo Bianco or Sansone). And also, do not forget that there are always tiny coves that are so well hidden and protected that even Aeolus, the God of Wind, is not aware of their existence...

Elbe beaches for children:

Elbe's dog-friendly beaches:

Elbe beaches by region

North of the island

Beaches of Portoferraio

Within the city of Portoferraio and in its immediate vicinity there are many beaches to suit every taste.

Beaches of Marciana Marina

Marciana Marina is one of the oldest fishing towns in Elba, so many of the beaches are home to all sorts of restaurants serving amazing seafood delicacies. The Marciana-Marina area is also famous for its cleanest beaches.

South of the island

Beaches of Campo nell'Elba

Beach tourism on the island began with the town of Campo nell'Elba. The main attraction of this place is the two-kilometer beach that connects Campo nell'Elba with the town of Marina di Campo, the main resort center of the southwestern part of the island. Here are the most famous beaches of the island: Galenzana, Cavoli, Fonza and Fetovaia.

Beaches of Lacona

The most important thing you should know when planning a vacation in this place is that Lacona is not a city. More precisely, not an ordinary city. This is a camping city. With all the attendant features. The density of campsites in this area is at an all-time high. Therefore, during the high season, most popular beaches are so crowded that sun loungers and umbrellas can stand right in the sea. If you don’t want to spoil your vacation, we especially don’t recommend the Lido beach, which is accessible to vacationers from three huge campsites! But don't shy away from a trip to Lacona - the rugged coastline in this area offers many pleasant beaches to suit every taste.

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Elbe is one of the most famous and picturesque islands. This small piece of land belongs to the region and lies 20 km from the nearest mainland city - Grosseto, separated from it by the Piombino Strait. The island has a long history and has a number of architectural and natural attractions, and is also famous for its beaches, festivals and sailing regattas, which regularly attract fans of this expensive sport.

Peculiarities

For many people who have never been to Elba, the island is known only as the former place of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte, but in reality, it is an elite Italian resort that annually welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, has a fairly flat topography and picturesque green hills washed by the waters of the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas. One of the main advantages of the Elbe is the absence of air-polluting industries and factories, thanks to which the environment remains high and the air is clean and fresh. The island has a well-developed infrastructure, modern hotels have been built, excellent conditions for sports have been created, and there are excursion routes to the most interesting places. Along the coast there are numerous restaurants, shops, souvenir shops and entertainment venues. The local population is mainly employed in tourism, agriculture and fishing. Transport links are also well established here, including the presence of the Marina di Campo international airport.

general information

The territory of the island, which contains 8 communes, covers an area of ​​223 square meters. km, with a population of just over 31,000 people. The length of the coastline is 147 km. The maximum height above sea level is 1019 meters. Local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. Time zone UTC+1 and UTC+2 in the summer.

A brief excursion into history

Since ancient times, the island has been well known in this region, which was largely due to its rich iron deposits, which were given considerable attention by the ancient Greeks and Etruscans, who dug the first mines here. During the era of Rome, Elba was one of the main suppliers of iron for the Roman legions, and after the fall of the empire, first barbarians and then Saracens began to visit here. At the beginning of the 11th century, the island came under the authority of Pisa, and then it acquired a private owner in the person of one of the rulers of the nearby cities. In subsequent centuries, the Elbe experienced a troubled period of its existence, until in 1802 it was transferred to France, after which a sharp construction and economic boom began here. In 1814, after the conclusion of the Treaty of Fontainebleau, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled here, and during the 9 full months of his stay, he did a lot for the improvement of the inhabitants of the island and the development of its infrastructure. In 1861, Elba became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Climate

The island has a pronounced Mediterranean climate with a lot of sunny days. The average air temperature here in the winter months is about +8 degrees, and in the summer it consistently exceeds +25, periodically overcoming the 30-degree mark. Precipitation falls from November to March, and from May to September, when the swimming season is in full swing, clear sunny days prevail.

How to get there

The fastest way to get to Elba is to fly to Rome and transfer by bus or train to the coastal town of Piombino, from whose pier ferries depart towards the island. There is also a local airport, but it is not large and receives flights only from a few European cities and regions of Italy.

Transport

The island territory has very good quality roads, along which taxis and mini-buses run regularly. Hotels have car rental offices.

Major resorts

The coastline of the island is extremely picturesque and abounds with majestic cliffs, harmoniously blending into the surrounding landscapes and complemented by the grace of the Mediterranean flora and fauna. Pebble and sandy beaches alternate with each other, but in some places entry into the water is difficult with sharp stones and fragments of boulders, so not all sections of the beaches are equally comfortable for swimming. The most famous resort of Elba is Portoferraio, which has an impressive port and a lot of entertainment for every taste. The local beaches of Biodola, Procchio and Viticcio, not far from the city limits, have a reputation as perhaps the best on the island and always enjoy increased attention from tourists. Among the other resorts, Porto Azzurro, Rio Marina, Cavo and Capiloveri stand out. Those wishing to improve their health are recommended to visit the healing baths of San Giovani. Elbe is also extremely popular among diving fans who come here to get acquainted with the unique representatives of the underwater world of these places.

Attractions and entertainment

Among the most interesting architectural structures of Elba are the Romanesque church of St. Stephen, Napoleon's Villa in the town of San Martino, the temples of Santissimo Scaramento and Forte della Stela in Portoferraio, Napoleon's winter palace on a picturesque hill between forts Stella and Falcone, as well as numerous fragments of Roman buildings, partially preserved to this day. History buffs should definitely visit 2 museums dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte and telling about the time when the great Frenchman served his exile on the island. In addition to excursions and sightseeing, resort guests have the opportunity to spend their leisure time in the most interesting and intense way. Jet skis and skis, catamarans and yachts, scooters and banana boats, as well as other attributes of water recreation are provided for the use of vacationers every day. In addition, here you can rent a boat or yacht, learn the basics of scuba diving or go fishing. Among the festive events held on the island, the International Festival called “Elba - the Musical Island of Europe”, created on the initiative of Yuri Bashmet, stands out. Also, sailing and yachting competitions are regularly held here.

Kitchen

Elba's culinary establishments combine French and Italian traditions, providing their guests with a wide selection of all kinds of dishes, including seafood, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, pasta, as well as various spices and sauces. All kinds of juices, liqueurs and wines are served as drinks. Traditionally, there is a wide selection of sweets and ice cream.

Shopping

In shops and souvenir shops on the island you can buy goods of completely different styles, from souvenirs with the image of Napoleon to luxury jewelry and high-quality shoes.

Elba is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, boasting excellent beaches, comfortable hotels and stunning natural scenery. Year after year, this island fully lives up to its high reputation, satisfying the tastes of the most demanding travelers.