Elba is the third-largest Italian island (224 km²) and the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago, sitting 10km off the coast of Piombino. Napoleon was exiled here for 10 months in 1814-15 (his two residences — the Palazzina dei Mulini in Portoferraio and the Villa di San Martino — are museums), but Elba's real history is 3,000 years of iron mining (the Etruscans and Romans extracted iron ore here, and the mineral-stained cliffs of the eastern coast glow red, orange, and purple). The island has 150+ beaches — sandy, pebbly, rocky, volcanic, white, black, and red — more variety in 224 km² than most entire coastlines. Monte Capanne (1,019m) is reached by cable car from Marciana and gives a panorama over the entire Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica, and the Italian mainland. The water clarity rivals Sardinia at half the travel distance from Rome. Tuscany →
Plan my Elba trip →Sansone and Sorgente (north coast): White pebble beaches with crystal water — the most Caribbean-like on the island. Cavoli (south coast): Sandy, wide, popular — good facilities. Fetovaia (southwest): A crescent of white sand in a bay — one of the most beautiful. Capoliveri beaches (southeast): Innamorata (legend of the drowned lover), Lacona (long sandy), Laconella. Pomonte (west coast): Snorkel to the wreck of the Elviscot (cargo ship sunk 1972, visible at 6-12m). Spiaggia Nera (Cavo/Rio Marina area): Black magnetite sand from the iron mines — the sand sticks to magnets.
Portoferraio: The capital — Medici fortifications (Forte Stella, Forte Falcone), Napoleon's Palazzina dei Mulini (€5), the old port with colored houses. Monte Capanne cable car: Open basket cable car from Marciana to the summit (1,019m). €18 return. The panorama is spectacular. The mining area (Capoliveri/Rio Marina): Museo Minerario (mineral museum, €5), the open-pit mines (guided tours — magnetite, hematite, pyrite crystals visible in the rock). Marciana: A medieval hilltop village — the oldest settlement on Elba, with a fortress and the Santuario della Madonna del Monte (where Napoleon met his Polish mistress).
Getting there: Ferry from Piombino (Toremar, Moby, Blu Navy — 1h, €15-25/person, cars €40-80). Piombino is 2h from Rome by car, 2.5h from Florence. Getting around: Car essential (public transport limited). Rent on arrival at Portoferraio. Stay: €60-150/night (Portoferraio for services, Capoliveri for beaches, Marciana for mountain atmosphere). Duration: minimum 3 nights to explore properly. Season: June-September. July-August: crowded. Combine with: Tuscan Archipelago (Capraia, Pianosa — boat excursions from Elba), Piombino (the Etruscan coast), Massa Marittima (45min from Piombino).