Introducing Elba
Napoleon would think twice about fleeing from Elba were he exiled here today. Though it’s a bit more congested now than when he was charitably dumped here in 1814 (he engineered an escape in less than a year), the island is an ever-glorious setting of beaches, blue waters, mountain trekking and mind-bending views, all supplemented by some very fine cuisine.
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While the dismal remains of the once prevailing iron-ore mining industry groan on, the inevitable dominance of tourism has motored ahead. Over a million visitors a year take the one-hour ferry cruise out here, and in Portoferraio, the primary arrival point, it sometimes feels like they’ve all decided to turn up on the same weekend. Elba is the largest, most visited and most heavily populated island of the Tuscan Archipelago – Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano (www.islepark.it), Europe’s largest marine protected area – yet this 28km-long, 19km-wide island has plenty of quiet nooks, particularly if you time a visit for April, May or September. Avoid August at all costs.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
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Elba and Napoleon: an unlikely history
18 August 2011
The island of Elba, the largest in the Tuscan Archipelago, is a 260km drive and 15km ferry ride north of...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Hiking/Camping on the beach from Porto Seguro to Cavaira
by amobr82 06 September 2011
I'm sure Elba would love to let you use her bathroom as you camp outside her yard. Maybe she'll invite you for a feijoada. Or try asking…
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RE: Scuba diving in Italy??
by saev 16 August 2011
Hi, I don´t know where you plan to cycle around Tuscany, but for example I know many people go to Isoa d´Elba in order to scuba die in…
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RE: Florence and Cinque Terra
by neckervd 15 August 2011
"We are on a tight budget and want a few days relaxing on the beach" For that, 5Terre is definitely the wrong area! The Lerici area or…
