Tuscany Review
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Elba

Elba


Mention Elba and most people will immediately think of Napoleon Bonaparte who was exiled here for 10 months from April 1814, but his brief sojourn tells just a tiny part of the island's story.

The largest of seven islands in The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano), Elba is situated sixteen kilometres from the mainland sea port town of Piombino, in the Province of Livorno.

​With a total size of 224 km² Elba is the third largest island in Italy, behind only Sicily and Sardinia with a population of just under thirty two thousand inhabitants. 
There are around ten towns with the capital being the port town of Portoferraio. This is where the majority of ferries arrive from the mainland although there are two other ports you can use for this: Rio Marina and Cavo, both of which are closer to Piombino. 

Aside from the towns, the main attraction of Elba is its vast array of beaches. In total, there are more than eighty beaches of different shapes and sizes around the island. The characteristic they all have in common is the bright blue, azure water which is what makes this such a popular destination for holidaymakers. Some of the most famous beaches are Sansone, Cavoli, Padulella, Biodola and Morcone but one of the best things about visiting Elba is that there are so many others to go and explore. 

Cruise ships dock in Portoferraio carrying day-trippers who will typically spend some time walking around the town centre, shopping, eating, drinking or visiting Palazzina dei Mulini, the official residence of Napoleon during his period of exile here. But a day-trip doesn't allow enough time to really capture the essence of Elba and most people tend to stay for longer periods such as a week or two, with so much to see and do on offer. 

​If you're planning a holiday in Elba it makes most sense to fly into Pisa Airport. From there it's just over an hour down the coast to Piombino from where you take the ferry across. The journey time to Portoferraio is an hour but there are shorter crossings to Rio Marina (45 minutes) and Cavo (30 minutes) also available. 

​I've created a website guide dedicated to Elba, another in the Review series called Elba Review. Below you'll find a link to the website which has lots more photos and information about what to see and do. 
Elba Review

Category: The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano)

Administrative area: Livorno Province

Population: 31,952

Size: 224 km²

Highlights: Cavoli, Sansone, Biodola, Padulella, Morcone (beaches)

Recommended accommodation: Marina Garden Hotel
Arrival ports: ​​​​​Portoferraio, Rio Marina, Cavo

Journey time from mainland: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Distance from nearest mainland port: ​​​16 km 
Arrive by: Ferry

Arrive from: Piombino

Best airport: ​​Pisa Airport


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Tuscany Review is part of the Italy Review network of websites, aimed at making life easier for English-speaking people travelling throughout Italy.
For advice on other locations in Italy please visit my websites below:
Capri Island Review
Procida Review
Ischia Review
Veneto Review
Sorrento Review
Abruzzo Review
Amalfi Coast Review
Basilicata Review

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​All photos and images on the site that are marked with the © copyright symbol or with the Tuscany Review logo are the property of Tuscany Review and must not be used elsewhere without prior permission. All written content on the website is the property of Tuscany Review and its use is strictly limited to this website alone. 
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        • Fiesole
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        • Forte dei Marmi
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        • Follonica
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        • Pitigliano
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        • Casciana Terme
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        • Cutigliano
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        • Giglio Castello
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        • Buonconvento
        • Montescudaio
        • Scarperia
        • Anghiari
        • Montemerano
        • Barga
        • Loro Ciuffenna
      • Historic Towns of Tuscany >
        • Vinci
        • Pietrasanta
        • Colle di Val d'Elsa
        • Pontremoli
        • Asciano
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        • Bagni di Lucca
        • Reggello
        • Chianciano Terme
        • Sansepolcro
        • Pomarance
        • Borgo San Lorenzo
        • Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        • San Quirico d'Orcia
      • Pretty Villages of Tuscany >
        • Lajatico
        • Borgo a Mozzano
        • Ponzanello
        • Panzano in Chianti
        • Castiglione d'Orcia
        • Mammiano
        • Montemassi
        • Prata
      • Vineyard Towns of Tuscany >
        • Greve in Chianti
        • Bolgheri
        • Radda in Chianti
        • Carmignano
    • Beach Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Castiglioncello
      • Lido di Camaiore
      • Marina di Cecina
      • Marina di Pietrasanta
      • Marina di Pisa
      • Talamone
      • Marina di Bibbona
      • Baratti
      • Punta Ala
      • Marina di Massa
      • Tirrenia
      • Quercianella
      • Marina di Carrara
    • Beaches of Tuscany >
      • Cala delle Caldane Beach
      • Cala delle Cannelle Beach
      • Cala Spalmatoio
      • Cala del Leone
      • Arenella Beach
      • Campese Beach
      • Spiagge Bianche
      • Le Rocchette
      • Ansedonia
    • Religious Sites of Tuscany >
      • Abbey of Sant'Antimo
      • La Verna
      • Abbey of San Galgano
      • Vallombrosa Abbey
      • Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
      • San Vivaldo
      • Certosa di Pontignano
    • The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano) >
      • Elba
      • Giglio
      • Capraia
      • Pianosa
      • Giannutri
      • Montecristo
      • Gorgona
    • Parks & Nature Reserves of Tuscany >
      • Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
      • Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna National Park
      • Migliarino San Rossore Nature Park
      • Parco di Pratolino
      • Calafuria Nature Reserve
    • Landmarks of Tuscany >
      • Ponte della Maddalena
      • Lake Bilancino
      • Lake Santa Luce
      • Monte Amiata
    • Natural Spas of Tuscany >
      • Saturnia
      • Bagno Vignoni
      • Bagni San Filippo
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tuscany >
      • Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany >
        • Medici Villa La Ferdinanda - Artimino
        • Medici Villa Poggio a Caiano
    • Ski Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Abetone
  • Travel
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      • Lucca Province
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    • Mountain & Valley Regions of Tuscany >
      • Val d'Orcia
      • Chianti
      • Maremma
      • Casentino
      • Garfagnana
      • Mugello
      • Alpi Apuane Regional Park
      • Val d'Elsa
      • Monte Argentario
      • Crete Senesi
      • Monti dell'Uccellina
      • Val di Cecina
      • Valdichiana
    • Versilia