The nearby towns
PORTO AZZURRO
Commune of 3100 inhabitants, 15 km from Portoferraio, Porto Azzurro stands in a sheltered cove of the Gulf of Mola, and has been a natural port for the Tirrenian Sea routes since ancient times.
There are three main places to visit:
- The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monserrato, that the Spanish governor y Leon had built in the seventeenth century, and whose name probably comes from the famous Sanctuary near Bareclona, is particularly interesting. The painting of the Virgin Mary kept inside the Sanctuary, is considered an exact copy of the one in the Sanctuary in Spain bearing the same name.
- Fort San Giacomo, once a Spanish fortress of the XVII century and now a prison, is also worth a visit, where you can buy many very interesting local handicrafts, and the Spanish church with the monument of General Diego d'Alarcson in marble.
- We also suggest a trip from Porto Azzurro to the Terranera Lake and to Monserrato.
This is the Commune with only 5 km of coastline, less than any other commune on the island. Reale, on the southern side, is very easy to get to, and it is precisely from here that you can swim to the Terranera lake, or to the soft, fine sands beach of Barbarossa, at the foot of a Spanish fortress. The Rossa is a small, sandy beach and the peace and quiet there, even in peak season, is interrupted only by the sound of the small motor boats that go past. Since the town is very near, this beach is a harmonious combination of town life and sea life. Mola, fascinating by day and suggestive by night, is next to the gulf so is sheltered from the winds.
CAPOLIVERI
High up on a small hill, Capoliveri is in a strategic position: the gulf of Porto Azzurro on one side, and Golfo Stella on the other, from where you also have a suggestive view of Mount Capanne.
Capoliveri is an ancient, fortified Pisan castle built in the twelfth century.
Historians consider the medieval church of San Michele, of which only parts of the apse can still be seen today, a rare example of the purest Pisan architecture.
Historians consider the medieval church of San Michele, of which only parts of the apse can still be seen today, a rare example of the purest Pisan architecture.
The Sanctuary delle Grazie is on the southern slope of Capoliveri.
Narrow lanes called "chiassi", stairways, granite arches and small houses whose painted walls have started to fade, make up the characteristic centre of Capoliveri. If you want to see all this with just one glance, just follow the extremely narrow road that goes round the town.
Capoliveri is rather lively in summer, when all the small handicraft shops, the wine cellars, the restaurants and bars come to life. One of the most significant events is the traditional "Innamorata" festival", on the 14th of July.
Its 35km of coastline make it the longest on the whole island. One of the first beaches to be opened to tourism was Naregno, 500 metres long, with its very fine sands and many tourist facilities to offer. Further along, the tiny beaches of Straccoligno and Calanova. Innammorata is a delicate cove where the blue sky is reflected on the crystal clear sea, and from where you can easily swim to the Gemini Islands. Pareti is a small strand of sand; Morcone, close to the promontory, is rich in soft sand; Madonna delle Grazie is very small, with sand mixed with gravel, just like Barabarca. The sandy beach of Zuccale is in one of the most fascinating and peaceful gorges of the entire coastline. Lido di Capoliveri is a wide beach and has many facilities to offer : the perfect beach for those who want to dive into the water as soon as they get there. Norsi is another sand mixed with gravel beach that is also easy to get to, while Felciao is a graceful sandy bay, with a natural, extremely quiet and peaceful quay.
Same characteristics are to be found also in Margidore, whose seabed consists of sand and smooth stones. Lacona, one of the longest beaches on the island, consists of very fine sand with sea squill growing here and there out of the surrounding dunes. Laconella, with its two rows of rocks on the sea, is also extremely beautiful. The tiny strands along the Costa dei Gabbiani can only be reached by sea.
PORTOFERRAIO
Commune of 11.000 inhabitants, Portoferraio can be considered the "capital" of the island, called Fabricia by the Romans, and Feraja in medieval times.
Important antiques of the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte are to be found in the Church of the Reverenda Misericordia. Built in 1677 by the Confraternita of the same name, the bronze mask of Napoleon, made by Doctor Antonmarchi, his personal doctor in Sant'Elena, as well as the relics of San Cristino the martyr, patron saint of the city, are kept in the church. Roman churches, Medicean Fortresses, and souvenirs of Napoleon, can all be found in Portoferraio, both the main port on the island as well as a marine destination.
The old part still has a many aspects that are more typical of a village: frank, picturesque, narrow lanes, old houses with balconies with flowers. The church of the Santissimo Sacramento, dating back to 1551, is truly beautiful. As you enter the church, you will see a votive temple on your left that is dedicated to those who lost their life in Elba during World War 1. The church of San Rocco, together with its tiny cemetery where those who died of the plague were once condemned and buried, is also worth a visit.
Portoferraio, with its 24,5 km of coastline, almost all of which you can get to by land, offers countless beautiful beaches that are perfect both for sunbathing and swimming: Biodola, 600 metres long, the second largest of Elba's sandy beaches, is only 8 km away, and you can get there either by bus or by car, although there aren't many places to park. The nearby beach of Scaglieri, 150m of very fine sand, slopes gently to the sea, and can also be reached by bus or by car; just turn right before you get to Biodola.
Forno is a small piece of land overlooking the sea, and from here you can go on a pleasant excursion to Punta peninsula by following an inland path along the coast. Getting to Viticcio, 6 km from Portoferraio, isn't very easy, but once you get there, your efforts will be more than compensated for the moment you see the enchanting, unbelievably quiet panorama.
Although Enfola is really tiny, (only 200 m), it offers you a wide choice of possibilities: this beach is divided into two parts, the northern part of the isthmus and another that overlooks the gulf of Viticcio, with a small wharf, and another strand, that you can only get to on foot, that leads to the top of the promontory. The tiny beach of Sansone is characterized by white, smooth pebbles. From here you can admire one of the most beautiful panoramas on the northern coast of the island, that you can get to on foot surrounded by the steep cliffs that go right down to the shimmering, crystal clear water.
In order to reach Acquaviva you have to go along a grit road starting from the gravel, main road for Enfola, and then you will arrive in this sunny, peaceful corner of the island that is only 80 m long. From the beach of Acquaviva, if you swim westwards along the coast, you can reach the Sorgente shores, a small, gravel gorge with high, white cliffs, and also to Acquavivetta. You can get to Seccione by following a path that looks as though it has come out of a fairy tale: go down the 120 steps in order to reach a beautiful, peaceful beach made up of shingles and "pockets" of sand that is only 180m long.
Steep steps down, and before you lie 370 m of white, smooth pebbles that make the water even more transparent and the seabed perfect for underwater excursions: we are in Capo Bianco, inside the marine reserve of the Scoglietto, where underwater fishing is forbidden. If you don't like wind or the sea breeze, then your ideal strand is definitely the nearby beach of Padulella: 170 m of gravel and see-weed. The 400 metres long, white pebble Ghiaie beach is at the end of the sea front and behind the public park, and here the marine fauna is plentiful, so ideal for breath-hold diving.
The Cala dei Frati (Friars' Cove) is between this beach and Padulella, and is characterized by a crystal clear sea, and since it can only be reached by sea it is often completely deserted. On the other hand you can walk to Le Viste, below the Medicean fortifications. From here, on a small boat, you can reach the tiny Scoglietto island.
The Grigolo beach, right in the centre of the old part of Portoferraio, is between Forte Stella and the Linguella Tower, seat of the Italian Naval League (Lega Navale Italiana). The beach of Schiopparello, a narrow, pebble stretch of land, is very suggestive, and ends up in Magazzini that slopes gently down to the sea. This stretch of land is unique because it is completely covered in Poseidonia. And last but not least, Ottone and Ottonella, about 800 m long, are covered in gravel and sand, without a doubt a quiet area that is sheltered from the winds.
Commune of 3100 inhabitants, 15 km from Portoferraio, Porto Azzurro stands in a sheltered cove of the Gulf of Mola, and has been a natural port for the Tirrenian Sea routes since ancient times.
There are three main places to visit:
- The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monserrato, that the Spanish governor y Leon had built in the seventeenth century, and whose name probably comes from the famous Sanctuary near Bareclona, is particularly interesting. The painting of the Virgin Mary kept inside the Sanctuary, is considered an exact copy of the one in the Sanctuary in Spain bearing the same name.
- Fort San Giacomo, once a Spanish fortress of the XVII century and now a prison, is also worth a visit, where you can buy many very interesting local handicrafts, and the Spanish church with the monument of General Diego d'Alarcson in marble.
- We also suggest a trip from Porto Azzurro to the Terranera Lake and to Monserrato.
This is the Commune with only 5 km of coastline, less than any other commune on the island. Reale, on the southern side, is very easy to get to, and it is precisely from here that you can swim to the Terranera lake, or to the soft, fine sands beach of Barbarossa, at the foot of a Spanish fortress. The Rossa is a small, sandy beach and the peace and quiet there, even in peak season, is interrupted only by the sound of the small motor boats that go past. Since the town is very near, this beach is a harmonious combination of town life and sea life. Mola, fascinating by day and suggestive by night, is next to the gulf so is sheltered from the winds.
CAPOLIVERI
High up on a small hill, Capoliveri is in a strategic position: the gulf of Porto Azzurro on one side, and Golfo Stella on the other, from where you also have a suggestive view of Mount Capanne.
Capoliveri is an ancient, fortified Pisan castle built in the twelfth century.
Historians consider the medieval church of San Michele, of which only parts of the apse can still be seen today, a rare example of the purest Pisan architecture.
Historians consider the medieval church of San Michele, of which only parts of the apse can still be seen today, a rare example of the purest Pisan architecture.
The Sanctuary delle Grazie is on the southern slope of Capoliveri.
Narrow lanes called "chiassi", stairways, granite arches and small houses whose painted walls have started to fade, make up the characteristic centre of Capoliveri. If you want to see all this with just one glance, just follow the extremely narrow road that goes round the town.
Capoliveri is rather lively in summer, when all the small handicraft shops, the wine cellars, the restaurants and bars come to life. One of the most significant events is the traditional "Innamorata" festival", on the 14th of July.
Its 35km of coastline make it the longest on the whole island. One of the first beaches to be opened to tourism was Naregno, 500 metres long, with its very fine sands and many tourist facilities to offer. Further along, the tiny beaches of Straccoligno and Calanova. Innammorata is a delicate cove where the blue sky is reflected on the crystal clear sea, and from where you can easily swim to the Gemini Islands. Pareti is a small strand of sand; Morcone, close to the promontory, is rich in soft sand; Madonna delle Grazie is very small, with sand mixed with gravel, just like Barabarca. The sandy beach of Zuccale is in one of the most fascinating and peaceful gorges of the entire coastline. Lido di Capoliveri is a wide beach and has many facilities to offer : the perfect beach for those who want to dive into the water as soon as they get there. Norsi is another sand mixed with gravel beach that is also easy to get to, while Felciao is a graceful sandy bay, with a natural, extremely quiet and peaceful quay.
Same characteristics are to be found also in Margidore, whose seabed consists of sand and smooth stones. Lacona, one of the longest beaches on the island, consists of very fine sand with sea squill growing here and there out of the surrounding dunes. Laconella, with its two rows of rocks on the sea, is also extremely beautiful. The tiny strands along the Costa dei Gabbiani can only be reached by sea.
PORTOFERRAIO
Commune of 11.000 inhabitants, Portoferraio can be considered the "capital" of the island, called Fabricia by the Romans, and Feraja in medieval times.
Important antiques of the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte are to be found in the Church of the Reverenda Misericordia. Built in 1677 by the Confraternita of the same name, the bronze mask of Napoleon, made by Doctor Antonmarchi, his personal doctor in Sant'Elena, as well as the relics of San Cristino the martyr, patron saint of the city, are kept in the church. Roman churches, Medicean Fortresses, and souvenirs of Napoleon, can all be found in Portoferraio, both the main port on the island as well as a marine destination.
The old part still has a many aspects that are more typical of a village: frank, picturesque, narrow lanes, old houses with balconies with flowers. The church of the Santissimo Sacramento, dating back to 1551, is truly beautiful. As you enter the church, you will see a votive temple on your left that is dedicated to those who lost their life in Elba during World War 1. The church of San Rocco, together with its tiny cemetery where those who died of the plague were once condemned and buried, is also worth a visit.
Portoferraio, with its 24,5 km of coastline, almost all of which you can get to by land, offers countless beautiful beaches that are perfect both for sunbathing and swimming: Biodola, 600 metres long, the second largest of Elba's sandy beaches, is only 8 km away, and you can get there either by bus or by car, although there aren't many places to park. The nearby beach of Scaglieri, 150m of very fine sand, slopes gently to the sea, and can also be reached by bus or by car; just turn right before you get to Biodola.
Forno is a small piece of land overlooking the sea, and from here you can go on a pleasant excursion to Punta peninsula by following an inland path along the coast. Getting to Viticcio, 6 km from Portoferraio, isn't very easy, but once you get there, your efforts will be more than compensated for the moment you see the enchanting, unbelievably quiet panorama.
Although Enfola is really tiny, (only 200 m), it offers you a wide choice of possibilities: this beach is divided into two parts, the northern part of the isthmus and another that overlooks the gulf of Viticcio, with a small wharf, and another strand, that you can only get to on foot, that leads to the top of the promontory. The tiny beach of Sansone is characterized by white, smooth pebbles. From here you can admire one of the most beautiful panoramas on the northern coast of the island, that you can get to on foot surrounded by the steep cliffs that go right down to the shimmering, crystal clear water.
In order to reach Acquaviva you have to go along a grit road starting from the gravel, main road for Enfola, and then you will arrive in this sunny, peaceful corner of the island that is only 80 m long. From the beach of Acquaviva, if you swim westwards along the coast, you can reach the Sorgente shores, a small, gravel gorge with high, white cliffs, and also to Acquavivetta. You can get to Seccione by following a path that looks as though it has come out of a fairy tale: go down the 120 steps in order to reach a beautiful, peaceful beach made up of shingles and "pockets" of sand that is only 180m long.
Steep steps down, and before you lie 370 m of white, smooth pebbles that make the water even more transparent and the seabed perfect for underwater excursions: we are in Capo Bianco, inside the marine reserve of the Scoglietto, where underwater fishing is forbidden. If you don't like wind or the sea breeze, then your ideal strand is definitely the nearby beach of Padulella: 170 m of gravel and see-weed. The 400 metres long, white pebble Ghiaie beach is at the end of the sea front and behind the public park, and here the marine fauna is plentiful, so ideal for breath-hold diving.
The Cala dei Frati (Friars' Cove) is between this beach and Padulella, and is characterized by a crystal clear sea, and since it can only be reached by sea it is often completely deserted. On the other hand you can walk to Le Viste, below the Medicean fortifications. From here, on a small boat, you can reach the tiny Scoglietto island.
The Grigolo beach, right in the centre of the old part of Portoferraio, is between Forte Stella and the Linguella Tower, seat of the Italian Naval League (Lega Navale Italiana). The beach of Schiopparello, a narrow, pebble stretch of land, is very suggestive, and ends up in Magazzini that slopes gently down to the sea. This stretch of land is unique because it is completely covered in Poseidonia. And last but not least, Ottone and Ottonella, about 800 m long, are covered in gravel and sand, without a doubt a quiet area that is sheltered from the winds.
