 Although
it has been the center for the island's main industrial activities,
Portoferraio offers some of Elba's most beautiful beaches, spread
along the road going from Enfola to Viticcio. Beach Grigolo
is practically situated in the center, but is hard to reach
since it is only accessible from the Naval Academy and as it
is located behind the Medicean Fortification, it is constantly
troubled by waves raised by the ferries passing nearby. It is
better to decide for Viste beach which also is located
behind the harbor but much easier to reach thanks to a sloping
ramp that you come on to at the top of the stairs near the homonymous
trattoria. The beach, dominated by the remainders of the Medicean
fortifications, offers both sand and pebbles and the sea is
crystal clear. Still in town, another splendid and snow-white
beach is Ghiaie where the sea really is transparent because
there is no sand on the sea-beds. |
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Along the road, both Padulella and Capo Bianco,
beach are well indicated and easy to reach. They are divided
by a stone promontory and framed by majestic white overhanging
faces and a breathtaking sea. Seccione beach, in the
east defined by a rock, offers fine and white pebbles mixed
with sand. It is easily accessible from the road between Portoferraio
and Capo d'Enfola, just as the near snow-white Sottobomba,
beach, accessible through narrow and very steep stairs. From
the same road you can also get to the cove Acquaviva
which, except for the beautiful shadowy pine-wood nearby, offer
good possibilities to dock small boats, thanks to its protected
location and some buoys. In Acquaviva's pine-forest you can
take on to a very steep track also called della Sorgente and
reach Acquavivetta, Acquavivetta beach, framed by rocks
and snow-white pebbles. Cala dei Frati is a cove that
holds crystal clear waters , but can only be reached from the
sea, a fact that even in summer makes it less visited. On the
way to Enfola you can stop at Sansone, beach, framed
by cliffs and embellished by a fine, brilliant white and almost
dazzling pebbles. Capo d'Enfola d'Enfola beach is clearly
divided into two parts: the southern part protected by the Viticcio
Gulf and very busy since the pier allows mooring of boats, while
the northern part, exposed to the north wind, often is occupied
by stranded boats . If you have a small boat, one of the most
pleasant things to do is going to Mount Enfolabeach,
made up of three distinguished coves, adorned with gorge caves
and rocks, where your only company will be cormorants. 
Pinetina beach is decisively small but beautiful and
you get there from the main road by stopping just before getting
to Enfola, where you take on to a narrow and steep track. If
you love rocks you should choose the central part of the Viticcio
Gulf which offers as many as five beaches. The central one
is basically a small harbor, but if you are able to walk between
the rocks you will reach the farther ones. The very famous Biodola
beach is easily accessible and thanks to its many comforts,
it is suitable for families with children Caletta di Forno
is lovely and made up of tiny transparent quartz grains
and protected by the Biodola Gulf. Within the same gulf you
will find Scaglieri beach, somewhat isolated, that with
its fine sand makes up the natural extension of Bidola beach.
Lovers of uncontaminated nature will find a small paradise as
they reach Lamaia beach, confining with Marciana beach
and connected to Biodola beach by the so-called "sentiero
della salute", the "health track", a shadowy
path in the middle of the greenery. The harbor at Portoferraio
is lovely as well and you can get to know it starting from the
well-equipped and easily accessible Bagnaia beach, confining
with Rio nell'Elba and well protected inside a gulf. A thick
shadowy wood, ideal for relax, crowns behind Ottonella
Ottonella beach around which tiny and delicious coves are spread.
Ottone beach, nearby, got its name from the homonymous
villa that raises behind it and even if it is a quite wide beach,
it never gets too crowded. Magazzini beach facing clear
and pure water offers peace without tiring walks. Walking from
Magazzini beach you easily reach the very long and narrow beach
Schiopparello that offers isolated coves for those who
want peace even in August. Le Prade beach is Schiopparellos'
natural extension, with tamarisks that stretch on to the beach
and offers shadow all through the day. Bigeschi and Grotte
Grotte beach are characterized by an almost black pebble bottom.
They are narrow with residences behind them and difficult to
reach from the very steep road that you come on to nearby Villa
Romana, coming from Portoferraio. San Giovanni instead,
is well equipped and easily accessible. It is the center for
the homonymous Nautical Club and even though it is not very
suitable for swimming, it gives you the possibility to take
your animal friends, that normally are not very appreciated,
for a walk,. The area of the Antiche Saline (Ancient Salt-pans),
next to Terme San Giovanni, also offers the Antiche Saline
cove, small and silent and well protected from the waves.
Photos from APT Tuscan Archipelago and Mediaweb srl.
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