Elba Island
The
island offers a marvelous variety of scenery, from small hidden coves
to long sandy beaches; each corner of Elba holds its own special surprise
for visitors. The island is washed by crystal clear water in every shade
of blue - a paradise for divers and snorkellers.
It's wooded hills make it ideal for hikers, it's panoramic roads so
popular with mountain bikers. Those in search of culture will find it's
ancient churches and museums a pleasant alternative to seaside activities.
The Island of Elba is the third largest Italian island after Sicily
and Sardinia and is the largest in the Tuscan Archipelago.
It has recently become part of the Tuscan Archipelago's National Park
together with the islands of Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo, Giglio and
Giannutri.
Elba has a coastline of 147 km: its main mountain (Monte Capanne) is
1019 meters high, accessed via pathways or by a panoramic cable car.
BRIEF INFORMATION
Measuring 224 square kms, the island is situated 10 kms from the mainland
with an excellent ferry boat service taking only one hour from Piombino
to Portoferraio (the island's main town).
Elba has approximately 30.000 inhabitants, of these, 11.000 live in
Portoferraio. The island is divided into 8 administrative "Communes".
It has an asphalt road network of 160 km and 80 km of panoramic "macadam"
roads.
The climate is always mild with a middle annual temperature of ca. 16°;
the medium in the winter is about 10° degrees, 14° in spring, 23° degrees
in summer and 17° degree in autumn. The medium water-temperature of
April is always about 19° degrees, 20° in May, June about 24°, 26,8°
degrees in July, in August 27,3°, September 25,5° degrees and October
23,1° degrees
Already in ancient times Elba's destiny was always determined by two
factors: its strategic position and the richness of its mineral resources.
Due to these characteristics, it was often the object of conquest for
the various powers along the Mediterranean. For the Etruscans and the
Romans Elba represented an inexhaustible source of riches and the iron
from Elba contributed to the prospering of their civilization.
During the Medieval period Elba was dominated by Pisa. The remains of
some important and striking defensive structures testify to the importance
of possessing the island. The Appiani Lordship followed, as did the
attentions of Cosimo de Medici, who built "Cosmopoli" on top of the
ruins of the Roman city of Fabricia - now the capital Portoferraio -
and had it surrounded with the impressive walls that saved the
inhabitants
from many pirate raids. The Spaniards settled in Porto Azzurro and they
too made sure to construct defenses on their territory - the imposing
San Giacomo Fort still dominates the pleasant landscape.
In the more recent history, the period that made this island famous
and placed it on the world map was the brief exile of Napoleon, who
stayed here for 10 month prior to his 100 days adventure which was finished
in Waterloo. Bonaparte left a significant mark of his short reign: Important
reforms and buildings like his Townhouse "Villa dei Mulini" in Portoferraio
and his impressing summer residence "San Martino" - which are now museums
and can be visited.
The island first opened to tourism soon after 1950 but has managed to
preserve it's waters, flora and fauna thanks to its local administration
and inhabitants.
A tiny airport services the island, permitting only small planes to
land from a few privileged European cities. Most visitors arrive by
car, others by train traveling to Piombino Marittima station which
is very close to the ferry departures.
Lacona
The Gulf of Lacona, between Capo Stella's peninsula and Capo Fonza's
massif, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque territories of
the Isle of Elba.
Located in the south side of the island, between Capo Stella and Capo
Fonza, Lacona is known throughout the world for its lengthy beach (over
1.2 Kms) made of thin sand, one of the biggest beaches of the Isle of
Elba, whose main feature is the presence of sand-dunes, on which the
pancratium maritime grows.
Preserving its distinctive environment, the seascape gives a feeling
of liberty, thanks to the fantastic view that can be admired from the
beach, from which the Isle of Montecristo can be spotted.
The built-up area, the tourist activities, the commercial ones and the
other services, being surrounded by greenery, are in an almost perfect
symbiosis with nature. The territory of Lacona belongs to the municipality
of Capoliveri.
Thanks to its central position, in 10 minutes by car you can reach the
main towns: Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Marina di Campo.
Facilities: postal office, bank, pharmacy, mini market, restaurants,
bar, beach facilities, boat rentals, diving and windsurf school, water
jets, alaggio imbarcazioni.
Market: only in high season, on Sunday morning and Thursday evening.
Large Beach:
white sandy beach of 1.200 meters of length with 5 accesses from the main road. Disposes of beach baths, bars, restaurants, boat rentals, windsurf, sail and motor boats, umbrellas. Guarded 'boat parking'.
Margidore Beach:
quiet, 800 meters long, beach (sand and pebbles), with view over Capoliveri. One only access on the eastern side of the Lacona coastal road. Disposes of windsurf and boat rental, possibility to attrack boats.
Laconella Beach:
250 meters long, framed by beautiful cliffs. Access on the western side of the coastal road, just follow the indications.
Acquarilli Beach:
300 meters long pebble beach. Access by foot from the provincial road for Porto Azzurro at the panoramic point 2 km. after Lacona.
Other beaches and creeks can be reached over the sea with small boats or taking deviations on some walking paths.
Capo di Stella: duration 2/3 hours - starting at Margidore.
Leads over the Capo Stella peninsula with some possibilities to rejoin the sea and some quiet creeks.
Monte Orello: duration 2/3 hours - access from the provincial road for Capoliveri at Loc. Acquacalda.
Splendid panoramas over the Stella and Lacona Gulfs. Ideal walking or with the mountain bike.
Path of the 'Pero - Mulino a vento - Villa di Napoleone': duration 3/5 hours - access on the Via dei Vigneti.
Path that goes up through the untouched nature and than leads down to San Martino (Villa of Napoleon).
Can be done in mountain bike.
Capo Fonza: duration 3/4 hours - starting at Laconella.
Very panoramic walk through the Mediterranean macchia vegetation with the possibility to rejoin the provincial road for Marina di Campo.
How to get here
Car
ferries leave Piombino almost hourly for Portoferraio in the summer
season. There are also a couple of daily ferries for Porto Azzurro and
Rio Marina. The main shipping companies are (Toremar
and
Moby).
The crossing Piombino-Portoferraio takes one hour.
Recently a new "fast" boat carrying a limited number of cars is in service.
A hydrofoil service (no cars) takes 40 minutes.
The camping is not directly taking care of ferry reservations.
But thanks to the collaboration with the agency Terraxè in Lacona.
you can reserve the ferry beforehand at the best price.
Please, click here to book or to ask for availability
By car:
From the North of Italy
(click for
map): from Milano take the A1 motorway, change to the A15 at
Parma Ovest to join the A12 Genova-Livorno exit later at Rosignano.
Continue on dual-carriageway as far as right-hand sign to " Venturina/Isola
d'Elba". Continue on the main road until you reach Piombino Marittima/Portoferraio.
From the North -East
(click for
map): Take the A1 motorway Bologna-Firenze-Pisa-Livorno exit
later at Rosignano and continue as above.
Alternatively: take the S.G.C.( not a motorway but a very good road)
Firenze-Pisa-Livorno, exit at Firenze Signa and follow the main road
as far as Collesalvetti. At Collesalvetti re-join the motorway and exit
at Rosignano, then dual carriageway as above down to Piombino.
From the South
(click on
map): Take the A12 Roma-Grosseto, continue on the main road
"the Aurelia": exit at Venturina-Isola d'Elba then follow as above for
Piombino.
By plane:
Milan, Zurich, Altenrhein, Berne, Wien
are connected
to the Elba airport.
Airport is 10 km far away from our camping in locality La Pila.
By train:
The train station of Piombino Marittima is 50 meters far to the ferries
departures.
For timetable see
www.trenitalia.it.
