Elba is the third Italian island in size and the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago. The island lies 10 km off the coast of continental Italy and is 27 km long and 18 wide, stretching over 224 km2. Its territory is mainly mountainous with a high and indented coastline, which measures 147 km, with more than 10 km of sandy beaches, 4 km of pebble beaches and 3 km of reefs where it is, however, possible to swim. More than 70 beaches, countless inlets, clear waters, Poseidonia beds and a seabed rich in fish characterise this splendid island.
Here nature remains untouched thanks to its position in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. The sea surrounding it is currently the largest sea park in Europe. However, Elba is not just sea: a luxuriant Mediterranean scrub, a mountain from which you can admire the entire archipelago, pine woods, Holm oak woods, chestnut woods and oak groves, agaves and prickly pears serve as a frame to paths for trekking and mountain-bike lovers.
HISTORICAL INFORMATIONS: Inhabited since prehistoric times, Elba has traces of the neolithic period. Conquered by the Romans, it became a sea base and then it was invaded by the Longobards, Pisan and Genoeses from 1284 to 1309. It has been part of the Piombino State (1339) ruled by the Appiani family and it was sold from Carlo V° to Cosimo I° Medici in 1546. At the beginning of 1800 it was ceded from the Spaniards to the French and it was a small kingdom under Napoleon from 1814 to 1815. Afterwards it was annexed to the Grand-Duchy of Tuscany and in 1860 it was united to the kingdom of Italy. Elba offers interesting cultural places as the Napoleonic Museums (Villa Mulini and Villa San Martino); the Archeological Museum of Linguella, the Picture-Gallery and the Foresiana Librery (both located in the “De Lauger Palace” in Portoferraio), the Medicean Fortresses and the Mineralogical Park in Capoliveri, Rio Marina and Rio nell’Elba.
THE MAIN CONNECTIONS TO THE ISLAND:
by road: take the speedway Leghorn-Grosseto, get off at “San Vincenzo” or “Venturina” and you will reach Piombino harbour after a few kilometers
by bus: from Milan to Piombino harbour
by train: at Campiglia Marittima railway station (on the Genua-Rome railway line) connection to Piombino harbour
by ferry-boat: in one hour by ferry (Toremar, Moby, Blunavy or Corsica Ferries) from Piombino (the largest ferry port on the island is Portoferraio but you can also disembark at Rio Marina or Portoazzurro) or by hydrofoil in 30-40 minutes.
by air: From Pila airport at Marina di Campo, the airline Elbafly connects the island with the airports of Pisa and Milan
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES:
AIR 15.7°C average of the year – 9.7°C winter – 13.9°C springtime – 22.7°C summer – 16.6°C autumn
SEA 19.0°C Apri l- 20.2°C May – 24.1°C June – 26.8°C July – 27.3°C August – 25.5°C September – 23.1°C October