Elba Attractions
Boat services
Regular services (including car ferries) run several times daily from Piombino to Portoferraio and between Livorno and Portoferraio. In summer there are also hydrofoil services from Piombino and Livorno to Portoferraio.
The island of Elba, the largest of the islands off Tuscany, lies in the Ligurian Sea 10km/6mi south of the mainland port of Piombino. Elba, 27km/17mi long, up to 18.5km/11mi wide, consists mainly of granite and porphyry, and has considerable deposits of high-quality iron ore, particularly in the eastern part of the island, with a metal content of 40-80%.
The possession of the iron-mines of Elba enabled the Etruscans to assert their dominance in Italy, and the mines were later worked by the Romans. Together with the tuna and anchovy fisheries and agriculture (fruit, vines) the working of iron was one of the island's main sources of income until 1982 when it finally came to a halt, most of the sites being exhausted.
Holiday resort
Elba's mild and equable climate, its great scenic beauty and the excellent conditions for scuba diving off its cliff-fringed coast have drawn increasing numbers of visitors to the island in recent years.
History
Elba belonged to Pisa from the 11th century onwards; then in 1284 it passed to Genoa, later to Lucca and in 1736 to Spain. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814 he was granted full sovereign rights over the island, and lived there from May third 1814 to February 26th 1815. Elba was returned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by the Congress of Vienna.
Regular services (including car ferries) run several times daily from Piombino to Portoferraio and between Livorno and Portoferraio. In summer there are also hydrofoil services from Piombino and Livorno to Portoferraio.
The island of Elba, the largest of the islands off Tuscany, lies in the Ligurian Sea 10km/6mi south of the mainland port of Piombino. Elba, 27km/17mi long, up to 18.5km/11mi wide, consists mainly of granite and porphyry, and has considerable deposits of high-quality iron ore, particularly in the eastern part of the island, with a metal content of 40-80%.
The possession of the iron-mines of Elba enabled the Etruscans to assert their dominance in Italy, and the mines were later worked by the Romans. Together with the tuna and anchovy fisheries and agriculture (fruit, vines) the working of iron was one of the island's main sources of income until 1982 when it finally came to a halt, most of the sites being exhausted.
Holiday resort
Elba's mild and equable climate, its great scenic beauty and the excellent conditions for scuba diving off its cliff-fringed coast have drawn increasing numbers of visitors to the island in recent years.
History
Elba belonged to Pisa from the 11th century onwards; then in 1284 it passed to Genoa, later to Lucca and in 1736 to Spain. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814 he was granted full sovereign rights over the island, and lived there from May third 1814 to February 26th 1815. Elba was returned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by the Congress of Vienna.
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Capoliveri, Italy
(Near Livorno)
Worth visiting is the charming mining village of Capoliveri, situated on a promontory in the southeast of the island.
Marina di Campo
On the lonely south coast is the popular seaside resort of Marina di Campo, finely situated in the Golfo di Campo.
Monte Capanne
From here there is a cableway up Monte Capanne (1,019m/3,363ft), the island's highest peak (views).
Monte Perone
From Poggio there is an attractive walk up Monte Perone (630m/2,079ft), to the southeast (1 hour).
Poggio, Italy
(Near Livorno)
About 4km/2.5mi inland is the fort of Poggio (359m/1,185ft), and 4km/2.5mi west of this the village of Marciana (375m/1,238ft; ruined castle), a summer resort surrounded by centuries-old chestnut trees.
Porto Azzurro, Italy
(Near Livorno)
Picturesquely situated in a long inlet lies the little fishing port of Porto Azzurro (pop. 3,000), which was fortified by the Spaniards in the 17th century.
Procchio, Italy
(Near Livorno)
Rio Marina, Italy
(Near Livorno)
On the east coast of the island of Elba is Rio Marina (pop. 2,500) with large open-cast iron workings.
