In the heart of the Tuscan archipelago, where a splendid nature joins to a deep Mediterranean culture, there is an island that the Napoleone Bonaparte defined "captivating and active". That's Isola d'Elba.

It is said that Elba is a precious stone that fell into the sea, when one of Aphrodite’s necklaces broke; it is an island with coves, bays, promontories, reefs, and crescent-shaped beaches — the 118 km. of coastline is four times the extent one would expect of an island this size — steep slopes dotted with olive and almond trees, silent lofty villages, holm-oaks, and sunny vineyards, pruclucing sweet wines, palm trees, agave plants, eucalyptus trees, and cork-oaks.

On the eastern beaches, the sand of the beaches is mixed with pyrite, and a rusty iron-red dominates in the rocks.

The Greek name was "Aethalia" which means "place of soot," because of the smoke from the ironworks here; "llva" the Roman name, refers to the early lords of the island, the Ligurian livates.

Porto Argoo (so-called because Jason, sailing the Argo, landed here during one of his quests), now called Portoferraio, was many centuries ago the main town of Elba; another name it once bore is that of Cosmopoli.

Halting places of interest:

Portoferraio: note the strategic position guarding the little bay, the dignified architecture, and the late-Renaissance city layout, the creation of Cosimo I de’ Medici; the town also contains the Foresiana art Gallery boasting works from the l6th-l9th-c, and an archeological museum with local pieces.

Capo d’Enfola: note the clear waters, abounding in fish, around the promontory Villa di Napoleone: take a detour from the fork of Bivio Boni; this was Napoleon’s summer home. Marciana is a village on the slopes of Monte Capanne, 1,018 m., (you can reach the peak by cableway and walking trails); on Monte Giove (a bit of a hike is required) note the Santuario della Madonna del Monte.

San Piero in Campo: take a detour just before Marina di Campo; this village dating back to Roman times lies at the foot of an old fort. Penisola di Lacona: this peninsula can be reached by a detour from a fork near the Golfo della Stella; forest landscape and beaches of exceedingly fine sand.

Capoliveri: there is a spectacular view from the "borgo," which can be reached from a turnoff just before Porto Azzurro; note the secluded beaches of Morcone.

Porto Azzurro: the Spanish built the fortress (now a prison) which looms over the town and the little gulf; from the road to Rio, you can detour to the Santuario di Monserrato (also founded by the Spanish, and dedicated to the Virgin of Monserrat, near Barcelona). Rio nell’EIba is a mining town in iron country Rio Marina has a small Mining Museum in town hall.

Cavo: note the ruins of a Roman villa on the promontory of Capo Castello.