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With
a distance of 10 km from the continent and a size of 224 qkm Elba is the
biggest island of the Tuscan Archipelago and actually the third-biggest
of Italy. For many years now big parts of the Elba Island and of the
other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago (Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo,
Giglio and Giannutri) are protected in the National Park of the Tuscan
Archipelago.
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.
The variety of the coast - altogether the shore length is of 147 km -
You can find wonderful sand - stone - or gravelbeaches, some are also
hidden and can be developed only by boat. But even in the high season
you will always find places, which are far away from the usual tourism
and which you will have alone for yourself.
The main roads (about 160 Km) are all asphalted. There are also around
80 km of dirt roads.
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 Applani 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 Spaniads settled in Porto
Azzurro and they too made sure to construct defences 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 is divided in 8 communes: the capital Portoferraio, Campo
nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana - with the biggest size, Marciana
Marina, Porto Azzurro, Rio Marina and Rio nell'Elba.
The famous wines and the excellent kitchen should give - next to the
kindness of the inhabitants, the beauty of the landscape, further the
impressive water quality and the annual mild climate - a big incentives
to spend your holidays on the Island of Elba. |
