Where to stay in Elba

Elba's beaches are among the finest in Italy. Fetovaia's sheltered white crescent on the southwest coast is consistently rated one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Spiaggia di Sansone has strikingly transparent pale-green water. Cavoli and Lacona are perfect for families, while the remote coves near Sant'Andrea offer some of the best snorkelling in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Napoleon Bonaparte spent ten months in exile on Elba in 1814-1815. His two residences -- Villa dei Mulini in Portoferraio and Villa di San Martino -- are well-preserved museums. The Medici fortifications above Portoferraio harbour date to the 1540s under Cosimo I de' Medici. Rio Marina's mining museum tells the story of iron ore extraction dating back to the Etruscans 3,000 years ago. The waters around Elba are protected as part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, the largest marine park in Europe. The rocky northwest coast near Sant'Andrea is Elba's top dive site with exceptional clarity, moray eels, octopus and grouper. The Grotta dei Pisani near Cavoli and the rocks off Spiaggia di Sansone offer superb snorkelling accessible without a boat. Monte Capanne (1019 m) is the highest peak in the Tuscan Archipelago. The open-cage cable car from Marciana is a memorable way up, while hikers can tackle the summit trail through chestnut forests. Mountain biking on the Elba Bike network covers over 280 km of trails. The Enfola Peninsula circular walk is a 45-minute panoramic route popular at sunset. Day trips to the wild island of Capraia add an adventurous dimension.