Holiday apartment on Elba: coast, culture and nature

Elba is the largest island in Tuscany and, after Sicily and Sardinia, the third-largest island in Italy. Its 147-kilometre-long coastline includes beaches of golden sand, pebbles and black sand; the latter’s colour is attributable to iron.

Nature and trails

Elba is one of the Tuscan islands protected by the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano. The national park was established to preserve its natural habitats. For hiking, the national park’s recommended trails are divided into the categories family-friendly, easy and challenging. Family-friendly trails have less than 200 metres of elevation gain and take an average of less than two hours. Easy trails involve approximately 200 to 500 metres of elevation gain and take an average of two to three and a half hours. Challenging trails involve approximately 450 to 800 metres of elevation gain or more difficult sections.

Water and marine experiences

At Capo Sant’Andrea, guided snorkelling excursions with experienced marine biologists are available from June to September. Sea kayaking excursions with the assistance of qualified instructors are also offered on Elba.

History and mining

The Santuario della Madonna del Monte is Elba’s oldest sanctuary and dates back to the 12th century. The Percorso del Monte Capanne leads to the Romitorio di San Cerbone, which was built in 575 AD and can only be viewed from the outside.

Another historical aspect of the island can be explored at the Parco Minerario dell’Isola d’Elba: the visitor train travels to the island’s most important and oldest mines and stops at the impressive Valle Giove mining area. There, visitors can search for pyrite and hematite specimens. The Museo Archeologico del Distretto Minerario in Rio nell’Elba is dedicated to the mining activities that have shaped Elba’s history since the Copper Age.

In Rio Marina, the Palio degli Asini takes place every year on Epiphany. The island’s eight municipalities compete against one another in a donkey race; in the evening, the festival ends with a traditional bonfire.

Napoleon on Elba

Villa San Martino on Elba was Napoleon’s summer residence and is now a museum. It preserves a collection of 19th-century prints as well as period furniture in fresco-decorated rooms, including the so-called “Sala egizia”. The Palazzina dei Mulini houses memorabilia, furnishings and furniture from the period, as well as part of the library that the emperor had brought with him.

Museums and places in the surrounding area

Elba’s museums offer opportunities for sightseeing outside the summer season. In the immediate vicinity of Livorno are the Museo Mascagnano, a museum, the Museo Ebraico, also a museum, the Museo Provinciale di Storia Naturale, also a museum, the Palazzo del Picchetto, a palace, and the Acquario di Livorno, which is classified as a zoo. Also in the immediate vicinity of Livorno are Spiaggia del Felciaio, Spiaggia per Cani and Spiaggia libera per cani; all three are beaches.

Getting there

Regular ferries run from Piombino to Portoferraio, with a journey time of approximately one hour. Faster connections take 40 minutes.

More destination pages: Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Rio Marina, Marciana, Rio Nell'elba, Campo nell'Elba

To the higher-level travel overview: Tuscany.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

Florence.