Napoleon, should have considered himself lucky to have been exiled to such a pretty spot as the Isola D' Elba. Arriving in May 1814 he escaped within the year and went on to meet his Waterloo. Nowadays tourism has firmly supplanted iron-ore mining, for centuries Elba's main earner. Over a million visitors a year willingly allow themselves to de marooned here. They came to swim in Elba's glorious blue waters, lie on the beaches and eat fine food others are drawn by Elba's mountainous terrain, which offers challenging treks and staggering views.
Although Elba is the largest, most visited and most heavily populated Island of the Tuscan Archipelago, eat majors just measures just 28km long and 19 km across at its widest point. The Island 15 km southwest of the ferry port in Piombino is well equipped for visitors, with plenty of hotels and campsites. The main town are Portoferraio on the north side and Marina di Campo in the south.
If you can avoid August when the Island get unpleasantly crowed and reservations are essential.
If you are here for an active time pick up the multilingual tourist office leaflet "Lo Sport Emerge dal Mare". It ha s useful map and lists walking and cycling trails, thusfor scuba diving, wind surfing and other water activities.
Most people opt for the ferry boat, but there is a small airport. (0565 976011) @ LA PILA, just outside Marina di Campo.
Elba Fly (0565 91961) www.elbafly.it They fly from Pisa and Milan.
Boats are run by Moby (199 303040) and Toremar (199 123199) unless it is a Summer weekend or the month of Augut when queues can form simply by a ticket at the port. From 6 to 9,50 Euros per person, and 20 to 49 Euros per car (according to season) Toremar also operate a passenger only hydrofoil service 10 Euro 40 min from Piombino to Portoferraio.
More info on Elba here: Isola d'Elba
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