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:- Hotels in Elba Island |
Elba Island offers a variety of picturesque seascapes, between inlets surrounded by woods and small coves towered by rocky cliffs.
It is the largest island in the Archipelago of Tuscany and is only 10 km off the coast and has a mainly mountainous layout.
The principal seaside resorts in the Elba Island are: Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Procchio, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Rio Marina and Rio nell'Elba.
In acient times Elba Island destiny was always determined by its strategic position and the richness of its mining resources.
According to these characteristics, Elba Island has alternate various powers domainations along the Mediterranean.
Etruscans and Romans considered Elba as an inexhaustible source of richenes and the iron from Elba contributed to the prospering of their civilazation.
During the Medieval period Elba was dominated by Pisa.
The remains of some important and striking defensive structures testify 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, nowadays called Portoferraio, and had it surrounded with the impressive walls that saved the inhabitans from many pirate raids.
The Spaniards settled in Porto Azzurro and they too made sure to construct defenses on their territory, such as the imposing San Giacomo Fortress that 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 about 10 months prior to his 100 days adventure which finished in Waterloo.
Napoleon left a significant mark of his short reign and made important reforms and buildings like his Townhouse "Villa dei Mulini" in Portoferraio and his impressing summer residence "San Martino" which are both today a museum.
Elba Island first opened to tourism soon after 1950 but it has always managed to preserve it's waters, flora and fauna.
On the island, a tiny airport permits only small planes to land from a few privileged european cities, while most visitors arrive by car, others by train travelling to Piombino Marittima railway station which is very close to the ferry departures.
Elba Island is the third largest Italian isle and is the largest in Tuscany.
Recently the island become part of the Tuscan Archipelago's National Park as well as the islands of Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri.
Elba's coastline mesures 147 km and its main mountain Monte Capanne reaches 1,019 metres high, accessible also by a panoramic cable car.
The island offers a marvellous variety of scenery, from small hidden coves to long sandy beaches and each corner holds its own special surprise for visitors.
Elba Island is washed by crystal clear water in every shade of blue, practically Elba is a paradise for divers.
Elba's wooded hills make it ideal for hikers and it's panoramic roads are so popular with mountain bikers.
Tourists in search of culture will find here ancient churches and museums as a pleasant alternative to their seaside activities.
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