Proximity to the mainland, a huge number of beaches for every taste, amazing nature, historical heritage and the availability of everything necessary for have a wonderful holiday make the Elbe 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 here, at the same time it is sunny, there are practically no cold winds or cyclones, average temperature air +23-30 degrees, 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 Monte 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, there are even castles and fortresses. Well, if we talk about the coast, here picturesque rocky bays alternate with unique multi-colored sand and pebble beaches - that’s not full list something that 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 last years the island represents 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 the Elbe is its coastline, which has a huge number of beaches to suit every taste: sandy beaches with snow-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. Elbe 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; planes of foreign and Italian airlines from many major cities Europe.

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 various types transport and to 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. Most cheap 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. Ending station- a small train station - Piombino Mare, which is located right in front of the port from where 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

In summer you can reach Piombino by tourist buses, which depart from various cities in the provinces of Milan and Florence. For example: Passenger Transportation on the route "Florence - Piombino" are 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. Most cheap option from the Moby company - 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 tourist season, V winter period 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 It also has the advantage that you can compare the prices of 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 travel 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

The Elbe has excellent transport links to everyone major cities islands. 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 - these are buses of blue color, with 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

Elba attracts not only 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 — most 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 can 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 naval base, continued iron mining, and also discovered granite, healing mud, and, of course, excellent wine on the island, which large quantities sent 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.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

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 - 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 are the owner ground transport, then you won’t have any difficulty getting 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 locality or a hotel located along the coastline there are sure to be 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 unique phenomenon, the main advantage of which is pure 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. There are long straight lines on the Elbe open beaches, there are small cozy coves that are surrounded by greenery, 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 availability is important to you developed infrastructure on the beach: parking, restaurant/bar, sun loungers, umbrellas, swimming equipment rental, all kinds of instructors and training schools different types 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 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

Started from the city of Campo nell'Elba beach tourism on the island. 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 Islands: 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.

In life Napoleon Bonaparte there were several months during which he chose between a bird in the hand and a pie in the sky. The “Crane” was the crown of the Emperor of France, lost after defeat in the war by a coalition of European monarchies. "Tit" is the small island of Elba, located off the coast of Italy, not far from its native Corsica.

Napoleon I was Emperor of Elba from May 1814 to February 1815, and this period was perhaps the brightest in the history of this small piece of land.

By the spring of 1814, the position of the French Empire was critical. The war was already going on directly on French territory, and, despite all the efforts of the emperor, the enemy was getting closer and closer to Paris.

On March 31, 1814, the Allied troops entered Paris, which had capitulated. The French Senate announced the deposition of Napoleon. The emperor himself with his loyal troops hurried to the rescue of his capital.

Staying at his beloved palace in Fontainebleau, Napoleon I waited for the troops to arrive to resume the military campaign.

However, his faithful marshals, who owed their fame and titles to Napoleon, at that moment were no longer thinking about war, but about how to maintain their position. Having entered into negotiations with the allies, they received certain guarantees from them, after which they offered the emperor to abdicate the throne.

Napoleon resisted to the last. He tried to abdicate in favor of his son, but the victors intended to restore him to the French throne. Bourbon dynasty and were not going to bring them to power Napoleon II.

On April 6, 1814, realizing that he had lost completely, the emperor abdicated the throne for himself and for all his heirs.

The court nobility quickly abandoned their beloved emperor; he remained in the Fontainebleau Palace with only the most devoted members of his entourage. On the night of April 12–13, Napoleon attempted to commit suicide by taking poison.

However, the poison had no effect, to which the emperor himself ironically remarked: “Even death betrayed me!”

A small empire overlooking Corsica

An unsuccessful suicide attempt, oddly enough, brought Napoleon back to life, and he began to think about his future.

On the eve of an unsuccessful suicide attempt, an agreement was concluded between Napoleon Bonaparte and representatives of the Austrian Empire, the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, according to which, losing power in France, the deposed emperor retained his title and took possession of the small island of Elba with a population of 12 thousand people, where he should was to spend the rest of his days.

Interestingly, the British were against such conditions, believing Napoleon to be a usurper unworthy of the imperial title. However, the Russian emperor insisted on preserving the title for the deposed monarch. Alexander I. In his opinion, it was strange to deprive the imperial dignity of a man with whom all of Europe not only fought, but also concluded treaties.

The title was retained not only by Napoleon, but also by his wife, Marie Louise of Austria. However, the wife did not intend to share the fate of her losing husband. Since the marriage of this couple was initially political, the Austrian princess felt that there was no point in staying with Napoleon, who was deprived of real power. The son of Napoleon and Marie-Louise also remained with his mother.

On April 20, 1814, Napoleon said goodbye to his encirclement and left Fontainebleau. On May 3 he arrived on the island of Elba.

Napoleon at the Fontainebleau Palace before leaving for Elba. Reproduction of a painting by Francois Pigeot. Source: www.globallookpress.com

According to contemporaries, Napoleon, while on the road, spent a lot of time reading materials about the history of the island and its current state. He hatched plans to turn the island into a blooming garden.

Coming ashore from the British frigate Undaunted, he was very warmly received local residents. The mayor of Portoferraio presented the new owner of the island with symbolic keys. Legend has it that, in the absence of real ones, he ordered the large keys to the basement of his own house to be hastily covered in gold.

Over the next few months, Napoleon carried out all sorts of reforms on the island, from improving fortifications to changing excise taxes and duties.

The Emperor prepared two residences for himself, a winter and a summer one, hoping that the family would eventually come to join him on Elbe.

Napoleon's Villa on the Elbe. Engraving. Source: www.globallookpress.com

The activities carried out by Napoleon required money, and the emperor had a hard time with it. According to the agreement, the winners were supposed to allocate funds, but in practice this did not happen. The income of the island itself could not cover Napoleon's needs.

It got to the point that Napoleon bought a house for one of his residences with money taken from his sister who was visiting him.

Once Napoleon’s mother, who lived on Elba, reproached her son for cheating when playing whist, to which the emperor calmly replied: “Madam, you are a rich woman, and I am a poor man!”

Napoleon's Choice

The winners tried not to bother Napoleon. He was watched on Elba, but his freedom within the island was not particularly limited.

According to the agreement, he had at his disposal a personal guard of several hundred loyal soldiers and officers who were ready to go through fire and water for their emperor.

Napoleon on the Elbe. Engraving.

Sights of Elba Island, what to see, how to get to Elba Island, where to stay and where to eat. All information about Elbe.

"Little Paradise" - Elba Island

If Napoleon lived in our time, he would certainly throw conquering ideas out of his head and, of his own free will, without any outside help, move to the Elbe - a desirable place for many today's tourists from all over the world.

However, this question can be looked at from another point of view - if Napoleon had not been exiled to Elba, would it have become so famous? If before the “tourist boom” the island was inhabited mainly by ore miners, then after the stay of the deposed French emperor, it was the visitors who became the main source of income for the local treasury.

About one and a half million vacationers visit the Elbe every year. A developed network of modern hotels and restaurants, comfort and the highest service help you fully enjoy the paradisiacal nature of the island. An endless azure sea stretching into the horizon and clean sandy beaches hiding between green hills - what could be better for modern man, hungry for the silent majesty of Nature?

The island of Elba, with its area of ​​224 square kilometers, is the third largest Italian island and the largest of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Getting to the island is not difficult, as numerous ferries and ships dock here every day. The distance from the mainland to the island is approximately 10 km.

Tuscan archipelago. Photo wikipedia.org

The population of Elba Island has about 35 thousand inhabitants, the island is divided into eight municipalities, the main one - the capital of the island, Portoferraio - is home to 12 thousand people.

Despite the fact that the perimeter of the Elbe coast is only 147 kilometers, the island offers tourists an endless variety of different landscapes: romantic fishing villages, small towns, ancient castles, green valleys and enchanting coves and, of course, beautiful beaches from sand and gravel.

Romantic village near Marciana Marina, Elba. Photo elbaworld.com

The abundance of historical and cultural evidence combined with stunning natural beauty makes this island a magical and unique place to enjoy your holiday.

A short excursion into the history of Elba Island

When thinking about Elba, the name Napoleon immediately comes to mind, despite the fact that the deposed emperor lived on the island for less than a year.

But the history of this island is not limited only to the ten months of the rule of the French emperor and goes back to ancient times, dating back to the Middle and Upper Paleolithic period, as evidenced by the finds contained in the Archaeological Museum of Marchana.

History has decreed that the island of Elba has always been the scene of major events: there is no civilization in the Mediterranean that has not left its traces on the 224 square kilometers of the island, creating its unique character.

According to myth, Jason came here during his search for the Golden Fleece, Virgil mentioned it in the Aeneid, the Etruscans traded here, for whom the Elbe was an inexhaustible source of wealth - in the eighth century BC, the Etruscans extracted iron ore from the mines of the island.

After the decline of Etruscan culture, the Romans inherited the steel industry, and also discovered granite and healing mud on the island.

“The island of good wine,” the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder said about Elba. Ships calling at the island's port were loaded with amphorae: many of them have been preserved in the archaeological museums of Elba and Marcana.

During the Middle Ages, the island belonged to the Maritime Republic. In 1548 it was the turn of the Medici dynasty: Cosimo I built the fortified city of Portoferraio, a real pearl of military planning.

Portoferraio. View of the Torre della Linguella at night. Photo: aisoladelba.it

Immediately after this, the Spaniards settled in Porto Azzurro and built the impressive fort of San Giacomo.

In the eighteenth century, the Elbe was fought over by the Austrians, Germans, British and French until the island became the “full property” of Napoleon Bonaparte, who did a lot of important things during his ten months in office: built roads, transformed the mining industry, and increased the production and export of wine.

Upon his return to France, Napoleon left two residences here, which later became the National Museums.

Holidays and festivals on Elba Island

Visiting Elba Island during events, festivals and holidays will certainly enhance the cultural value of your holiday. You will discover different places of the island, created from music, dance, tastes, colors and sounds.

Why not choose your arrival date based on the popular annual festivals?

If you love sports, you need to get to the island in the spring, during the "Walking Festival", if you are crazy about gastronomic tourism, go to Elba in the fall, when gastronomic events are held, such as the wine or chestnut festival. In the summer you will visit various folklore and cultural holidays: from carnival to music festivals international caliber.

Below you will find the most important events held on the island for many years, and sometimes for centuries, captivating residents and tourists in a whirlwind of emotions.

May 5 - Napoleonic holiday in Portoferraio

Portoferraio, the city that was Napoleon's home during his 300 days in exile, pays tribute to the emperor every year with a costume party. A mass is celebrated in the Church of Mercy in memory of the emperor. Costumed actors from Belgium preside over the mass, where the sarcophagus is surmounted by a funeral mask and a cast of the emperor's hand, kept in a nearby museum.

Then there is a ceremonial parade through the streets of the city, leading to the villa where Napoleon lived in exile on the Elbe. This year, on the occasion of the bicentenary of Napoleon's stay on Elba, numerous other events will be held to commemorate the exiled emperor.

Napoleon's landing on the Elbe. Costume performance. Photo infoelba.it

July 14 - Capoliveri - The Legend of the Lover

The Legend of the Lover is a holiday that looks back to 1534, when the fate of two young lovers was tragically cut short due to a Saracen raid. Historical reconstruction was born in the mid-seventeenth century, thanks to Don Domingo Cardenas, an impoverished nobleman of Spanish origin who settled in the place where, according to legend, the girl Maria sacrificed her life to reach the pirate ship that captured her lover Lorenzo.

Today, the parade passes through the streets of the city until it reaches the beach del Innamorata, where teams from the districts compete to win the scarf of Mary who threw herself into the sea. The winners deliver the scarf to Don Cardenas, who gives it to the girl chosen from the crowd by the winning team.

Maria looks out for a pirate ship at sea. A costume dramatization of the legend. Photo tenews.it

August 12 - Marciana Marina - St. Chiara's Day

The celebration of Saint Chiara's Day is famous mainly for the beautiful fireworks display accompanied by the music of the concert organized in the town of Marciana Marina. Every year the entire coast is filled with people who, accompanied by a city group, take part in a ceremonial procession to the sea and a magnificent pyrotechnic spectacle.

Saint Chiara's Day. Pyrotechnic show. Photo agenziabrignetti.it

End of September - beginning of October - Capoliveri - grape festival

The Capoliveri Grape Festival is an event attended by about 5,000 people every year. Preparations for it take place over a period of weeks and the festival takes place in the four districts of Capoliveri among games and competitions. This is one of the island's best traditional festivals, which brings many surprises to visitors every year. The festival includes costumed performances that recreate the ancient traditions of the Elbe grape harvest.

Grape Festival in Capoliveri. Photo pernici.net

September - Portoferraio - Jazz Festival "Elba Isola Musicale d"Europa"

For more than fifteen years, every September this important celebration of classical music and jazz takes place in Portoferraio, bringing international stars to theatres, cathedrals and fortresses of the island of Elba. Over the years of the festival, the island has seen many first-class world-class performers, starting with Yuri Bashmet, who became the artistic director of this festival with his Moscow Soloists orchestra.

The festival is traditionally held at the Teatro dei Vigilanti in Portoferraio, the Fortress of Pisa in Marciana, the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle in Portoferraio and the Hotel Hermitage in Biodola.

The president and artistic director of the festival is maestro Yuri Bashmet. For getting additional information For dates and times of concerts, visit the official website: www.elba-music.com.

Last weekend of October - Poggio, Marciana - chestnut festival

Poggio, located in the province of Marciana, is the ideal location for the Chestnut Festival, a celebration that has been taking place for thirty years in this medieval village. In Piazza Castagneto, wine and gastronomic stalls are lined up, offering traditional Elbe dishes based on chestnuts, such as chestnut bread, chestnut cake, cheese, pies, noodles and polenta with chestnuts, in addition to the classic roasted chestnuts and red wine.

Chestnut Festival in Poggio. Photo mucchioselvaggio.org

New Year - Portoferraio

Fairs, tastings, concerts and spectacular fireworks reflected in sea ​​water- this is what awaits those who decide to spend the New Year holidays in the city of Portoferraio.

Elba Island attractions: museums, ancient monuments and breathtaking panoramic views

This section will be a real surprise if you think that the island of Elba is just sun, sea and beaches.

The island is overflowing with attractions and interesting places to visit that will satisfy every type of curiosity, be it historical, geological, architectural, religious or naturalistic archaeological sites, landscapes, museums, churches or fortresses. All you need is a little attention!

As on all islands, the indigenous population of Elba consists mainly of farmers, fishermen and sailors, inextricably dependent on the forces of nature: land, sea and weather.

That is why there are many places of worship scattered throughout the island, dedicated to the deities who protect the land and sea. There are many monuments of Christianity and no less pagan sanctuaries. The temples are mainly dedicated to the Virgin Mary or Ceres, the goddess of fertility.

Church of Mercy

(Portoferraio - Salita Napoleone)

The Brotherhood of Mercy was founded by the Venerable Giovanni de' Medici in 1566. In 1677, a small church was built for worship, which was named the Church of Mercy in honor of the brotherhood.

This cathedral contains the relics of St. Christine the Martyr, patron saint of Elba. Since 1852, every May 5th a mass has been celebrated here in honor of Napoleon.

Of particular value are the organ built in the church in 1792 and the statue of the Madonna and Child, which was created by Giovanni Pisano's student, Tino Camaino.

Next to the church there is a small museum where sacred relics of the brotherhood and objects associated with Napoleon are kept - the flag that was presented to Napoleon during the landing on the Elbe on May 4, 1814, a bronze mask of the deceased Napoleon donated by Prince Anatoly Demidov, and a bronze cast of his right hand .

Church of Mercy in Portoferraio. Photo infoelba.com

Portoferraio Cathedral

(Portoferraio - P.za della Repubblica)

The construction of the Cathedral of Portoferraio, which began in 1554 and dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, began simultaneously with the construction of the Villa Medici in 1548 for Cosimo I.

The cathedral originally consisted of a single nave, which was expanded over the centuries. In the French manner, the cathedral began to function as a parish church, and for this reason the main altar of stone was replaced with marble.

On May 4, 1814, a mass was celebrated here in the presence of Napoleon Bonaparte, the newly appointed ruler of the Island of Elba.

Cathedral of Portoferraio. Photo globopix.net

Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte

(Marcana)

The church, immersed in greenery, dates back to the 16th century. Bare walls, dim light, silence and cold air that reigns in this sanctuary create an almost mystical atmosphere. It houses an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in heaven, painted on a granite block, probably dating back to the thirteenth century.

During the 1995 restoration, frescoes attributed to Sodom were found behind the church's altar.

The purest water flows from a small spring in front of the church façade. drinking water, starting in 1690. Here Napoleon, for a short period in the summer of 1914, escaped the heat of Portoferraio and met, away from prying eyes, with his Polish mistress, Maria Walewska.

The island of Elba, a strategic point in the Mediterranean due to its location, has always been targeted by the largest civilizations in history, who, in order to protect their hard-won territories, created fortified outposts over the centuries.

Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte. Photo elbaexplorer.com

Medici ramparts

(Portoferraio - Historic Center)

Approaching Portoferraio by ferry, you are immediately struck by the grandeur of these walls that rise above the sea. These are the Medici ramparts, built by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I, to protect against Turkish attacks.

After the completion of the fortresses of Forte Falcone, Forte Stella and the Lingella Tower, in 1555 Giovanni Camerini began the construction of the ramparts of the front of the Earth, developing them about 500 meters in a westerly direction under Forte Falcone. After Camerini's death, Bernardo Buontalenti took over the complex.

Organized on four levels (Bastions "del Veneziano", "del Casino di Mezzo", "delle Palle", and "della Cornacchia"), the ramparts represented a powerful defense against attacks that could arise from Porta Terra.

Over the years, due to wars and natural destruction, the condition of the Medici ramparts was greatly weakened. However, you can still feel the grandeur of this fortified city, built in the sixteenth century to protect the island.

Forte Falcone in Portoferraio. Photo fotoeweb.it

Castle Volterraio

(located between Portoferraio and Rio nel Elba)

Visible from the ferry arriving in Portoferraio, Volterraio Castle is the oldest fortification on the entire island of Elba. The origin of its name is unclear: it may come from the Etruscan word "Vultur" (vulture) or from the name of the territory of Volterra, where the architect Gherardo Rau, who was responsible for the reconstruction of the castle in the thirteenth century, came from.

The original Castle of Volterraio, of Etruscan origin, was actually expanded and fortified in 1281 by order of the Pisan State, which used the fort for defensive purposes. Subsequently reinforced in 1440, the castle is one of the few strongholds that the Elbe never surrendered to Turkish pirates.

Acquired by the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, today the castle is in a severe state of decay. Despite this, with great care within the framework of the visit, the castle walls are worth a visit to admire the majestic remains and enjoy unique view to the Gulf of Portoferraio.

Castle of Volterraio. Photo: elbalink.it

Torre della Marina

The Torre della Marina or Novaglia Tower is the dominant element in the Marciana Marina harbour. The not very large cylindrical structure still retains elements that indicate its function as a warning and defense of the northern coast of the island of Elba.

Various assumptions have been made about the origin of the tower. Today's hypothesis states that the construction of the tower was carried out by Jacopo Appiano VI between 1558 and 1562, after his family regained possession of the Elbe. The tower may have been built following requests from the local population, who were seriously suffering from raids and devastation at the hands of the Turkish pirate Dragut.

Torre della Marina. Photo elbaexplorer.com

Torre San Giovanni

The Tower of San Giovanni dates back to the twelfth or thirteenth century, when the island of Elba was occupied by the Republic of Pisa, which took the trouble to build a system of fortifications as a defensive garrison.

The tower seems to arise from a huge granite boulder located on Monte Perone, 300 m above sea level, overlooking the Marina di Campo bay, at that time one of the bays most prone to possible attacks from the sea. The tower occupied a strategic position for observation and transmission of optical signals, from where today you can enjoy a magnificent view of the bay.

The structure consisted of two floors and a control terrace, unfortunately destroyed after an enemy attack. Despite being in disrepair for many centuries, due to a series of collapses, the tower has often been the subject of reconstructions, which have helped to consolidate the walls, even if access to the interior remains very difficult and dangerous.


Tower of San Giovanni.Photo elbaexplorer.com

The most important museums and residences located on the island

Villa San Martino and Demidoff Gallery

(Portoferraio - San Martino)

Cost of visit - 5 euros

Villa San Martino, Napoleon's summer residence, is located in the countryside, about 5 km from Portoferraio. The majestic monument of neoclassical architecture is associated with the name of Count Anatole Demidoff, the husband of Napoleon's niece, Mathilde, who in 1851 wanted to build a residence worthy of the imperial era to house his collection of Napoleonic memorabilia.

The Demidoff Gallery lies at the foot of the original residence, inside you can admire the original Galatea sculpture for which Paolina Borghese posed.

The original Napoleonic residence extends over the galleries. The external architecture is decorated very simply, inside there are rooms and halls designed by the architect Bargigli and painted by Vincenzo Antonio Revelli.

The most noteworthy is the Egyptian hall located on the second floor, containing papyri and fragments of walls from the Egyptian campaign, and the “Love Knot” room, a dining room whose ceiling frescoes symbolize the love between Napoleon and Marie-Louise.

Villa San Martino. Photo by ansa.it

Municipal Archaeological Museum of Marcana

(Marciana - Via del Pretorio, 66)

The Municipal Archaeological Museum of Marciana is the first archaeological museum on the island of Elba. It was opened in 1968 to house finds brought to light during excavations that took place throughout the island in those years.

The museum's collection consists of many exhibits, mainly quarried around Marciana, arranged chronologically according to the period of their discovery: there are finds of stone production dating back to the Stone Age, Etruscan household items found on the hills near the fortress of Monte Castello di Procchio, remains of Roman shipwrecks, assemblages from the funerary tombs of Monte Capanne, and objects and pieces of equipment found aboard shipwrecks in the eighteenth century.

Villa dei Mulini

(Portoferraio - Piazzale Napoleone)

Cost of visit - 5 euros

Villa dei Mulini - the official residence of Napoleon, today is National Museum. On the occasion of the bicentenary of Napoleon's stay on Elba, the Villa has just been restored to restore the house to its former splendor.

Villa dei Mulini was built in 1724 by the Grand Duke Giangastone de' Medici, then it was adapted according to Napoleon's needs by the architect Paolo Bargigli, who raised it central hall on one floor, forming an original connection between two buildings.

The entrance is on the ground floor, then through a tunnel you can get to the main rooms of the emperor: a living room followed by a library and a bedroom.

The original furniture made for Napoleon, brought from Piombino from the residence of his sister Elisa, is now missing. The meticulous restoration of the residence included the installation of new nineteenth-century imperial-style furniture, which now recreates the imperial atmosphere. The villa's library, however, preserves Napoleon's books, which the emperor brought with him from the libraries of Fontainebleau.

The garden of the villa, leading to the sea, is decorated with two beautiful statues of Minerva, which are said to have been brought from Ancient Greece, as well as a copy of the sculpture "Galatea".

Villa dei Mulini. Photo trekearth.com

Villa delle Grotte

(Portoferraio - Le Grotte area)

Dating from the first century BC, the Roman Villa delle Grotte is one of three villas located on the island of Elba that have not undergone building modification processes over the centuries.

Abandoned at the end of the first century, between 1799 and 1801, due to expansion, it becomes a strategic location where artillery batteries were stationed in the battles between France and the Kingdom of Naples.

The structure of the villa, thanks to excavations carried out between 1960 and 1972, is now well known: the rectangular villa had a swimming pool and three large gardens, one of which is located along the coastline, overlooking the bay of Portoferraio.

Scientists do not know who originally owned this luxurious villa. The only mention of this complex was found in an elegy by the ancient Roman poet Ovid.

Villa delle Grotte. Photo viaggi-di-gruppo-elba.it

Where to eat on the island?

Restaurants are the key ingredient have a nice holiday: A perfectly prepared and beautifully presented dish is perhaps the “icing on the cake” after a day spent in the company of the sea, sun and nature.

Elba's cuisine, simple and natural, stems from the frequently changing dominations to which the island has been subjected in the course of its history. Typical island dishes often combine the flavors of the sea with the flavors of the land. The eastern part of the island is famous for its sweets, while high quality wines and liqueurs, red and white, are always good almost anywhere on Elbe.

In some towns, like Capoliveri or Porto Azzurro, the streets of restaurants come alive at dusk, with the aroma of freshly prepared food wafting through the air. In Marciana Marina and Marina di Campo you can find excellent fish restaurants that overlook the sea, in the streets of Portoferraio such taverns are traditionally passed down from generation to generation, while for those who prefer meat dishes, Marciana Alta is certainly a great place .

Throughout the island, even in less touristy areas, you can find a variety of pizzerias and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

How to get to Elba Island?

Elba Island, located approximately 10 km from, is easily reachable by any means. Vehicle: cars, trains, buses or planes.

Depending on your needs, you can decide whether to take the ferry with your car, rent a car on the island, or rely on public transport. You can even come here on your own yacht, as Elba offers a wide range of ports and harbors that cater to tourists.

By plane

Airplane is the most convenient way to get to Elba Island. Numerous daily flights allow you to reach here from major European airports.

In the summer of 2014 a new connection with the national airport also appeared. The flight takes about an hour and 20 minutes.

The airport on the island of Elba is located in La Pila, 2 km from Marina di Campo. It is a private civilian airport open to commercial traffic. Planes from 3 airlines fly here, connecting the Elbe with numerous European cities: Intersky, Skywork and Silver Air. You can book tickets.

By train

To take the ferry to Elba Island, you need to get to Piombino Marittima station, a small railway station, which is located right in front of the port where the ferry departs.

For most train routes, both North and South, you should get off at the station in Campiglia Marittima, where there is a train or bus every 20 minutes direct to Piombino Marittima.

Attention! For those coming from Florence: there is a bus from Florence Station that takes you directly to Piombino Marittima.

On a ferryboat

Ferries departing for Elba Island are operated by 4 companies (Moby Lines, Toremar, Blu Navy and Corsica Sardina Ferries), the journey time to Portoferraio is about 70 minutes.

There is also a fast water transport- “aliscafo”, which will take you to Cavo, Rio Marina and Piombino in 20 minutes, and to Portoferraio in about 40 minutes.

In summer (from April to early October) ferries are very numerous and operate almost all day long. In the winter months, transport is more infrequent - you will have to wait 2-3 hours if you are not familiar with the exact schedule.

If you wish to travel with your car, booking ferry tickets is always advisable, especially between 25 April - 1 May and on weekends in the summer.

If you want to leave your car in Piombino at the port, guarded parking lots are available, both paid and free.

By bus

The island of Elba can be reached by tourist buses that connect Piombino Marittima - the port of embarkation for the ferry to Elba - from Grosseto and (buses depart from various points in the province of Milan, such as San Giuliano Milanese, Melegnano, Lodi, Casalpustelgo and Piacenza).

The Florence-Piombino-Marittima route is operated by BuSITAlia Nord, which belongs to the Ferrovie dello Stato company and the bus schedule maintains connections with trains from Milan, Milan and Milan.

By car

The port of Piombino Marittima is located on the Tyrrhenian coast between and Grosseto. Easily accessible from any part of Italy, the exit for Piombino Marittima is marked on the SS1 motorway as "Venturina / Piombino / Elba".

Once you reach Piombino Marittima, you can leave your car in a guarded parking lot or transfer your car to the island of Elba.

Highways of the north:

Milan - Piombino Marittima

Take the A1 towards Parma/Bologna, exit at La Spezia/Parma Ovest, then take the A15 towards La Spezia. Take the "Genoa/Livorno" exit on the A12, direction Rosignano Marittima. Exit at Rosignano and follow the SS1 to Grosseto until the exit "Venturina - Isola d'Elba"

Travel time:

Milan-Piombino: 5 hours

Turin / Genoa - Piombino Marittima

Hotel Paradiso (Via Viticcio 41, 57037 Portoferraio)

Hotel Desiree (Lido di Spartaia, 57030 Procchio)

Hotel Biodola (Via Biodola 1, 57037 Portoferraio)

Hotel Del Golfo (Via Delle Ginestre N° 31, 57030 Procchio)

Hotel Biodola, Portoferraio

Elba (Italian Elba, Latin Ilva) - island in Italian region Tuscany, located 10 km from the coastal town of Piombino (from which it is separated by the Piombino Strait). Administratively, the island of Elba is a commune of Portoferraio within the province of Livorno in the Tuscany region.

There are 8 communes on the island: Portoferraio, Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Rio Marina and Rio nell'Elba.

The ancient Greek name of the Elbe - "Aetana" - is translated as "sparks".

The island was named so for its sandy beaches, sparkling in the sun with grains of mica. It was first mentioned in Homer’s legendary “Odyssey” around the 8th-9th centuries. BC. Then, eight hundred years later, the island was captured by the Romans, who named it Ilva. The ruins of Roman buildings can still be found on its territory. Its name was also preserved, over time transformed into “Elba”.

In world history, the island of Elba is widely known thanks to the French emperor Napoleon, who lived here for some time. As the most famous resident, two museums are dedicated to him on the Elbe - Villa San Martino and the Mulini Palace. The latter was built on the site of old windmills, hence the name “Mulini” (mulino - windmill). There is evidence that Napoleon personally took an active part in the design of the palace and garden, and also tirelessly monitored their implementation.

After the Congress of Vienna, the island passed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1860 the island became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy.

Now Elba Island has the status of a protected area, where any factory activity is prohibited and a limited development regime has been established. Thanks to the measures taken, it remains an environmentally friendly area.

Elba Island: photos


Elba Island: where is it located?

Elba Island is located 20 km off the coast of Italy, opposite the town of Piombino, Tuscany. The island is washed from the north by the Ligurian Sea and from the south by the Terrenian Sea and is the most big island and part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. The border with France is very close - the island of Corsica is 50 km away.

Elba Island on the world map

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 a well-recognized and very special flair 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. Flights from Russian cities no 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 Central Station Livorno Livorno Centrale, in 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 room for two 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 majestic rocks 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. Right here is high point islands - 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.

Landscape and animal lovers will love the Rock Cave (Grotta dell’acqua), inside which there is 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 the Elbe to see the beauty underwater world 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, there is also a store there with everything 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 shopping centers Portoferraio. Anyone who craves color and wants to buy something special needs to walk through the small shops and look at the markets. For quite 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.

Cuisine and restaurants of Elba

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 heart of Portoferraio stands the Cathedral of the Nativity Holy Virgin Maria. 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 works of the master: 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 climb up 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 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.