The Island of Elba, its wines, the cuisine, the farm

Legend has it that the origins of the Tuscan Archipelago rest in a jewel that slipped off the neck of Venus, goddess of beauty and love, and fell into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Part of the truth is hidden in this gentle myth, since it is without doubt that the islands of the Archipelago are other fragments of paradise.

On the other hand, only a few other tourist resorts in the world can boast such a rich and varied offer in the space of a few kilometres: sea beds, true paradise for scuba divers, to the mountains surrounded by secular woods, from the beaches and the small coves framed by the Mediterranean scrub to the small hill towns nestled in an eternal tranquillity.

Each visitor can find his own type of holiday, practising his favourite sport, granting himself the ritual of sunbathing or going to the discovery of what the Tuscan Archipelago has to offer in terms of history, culture, and food.

10 km from the continent, with a surface of 224 km², Elba is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third, in terms of size, of the Italian islands. For some years it has been part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago with Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri.

The climate is particularly mild with an annual temperature of between 15° and 16°; the seasonal average temperatures are 10° in winter, 14° in spring, 23° in summer and 17° in autumn. The monthly temperatures of the sea are: April 19°, May 20°.2, June 24°.1, July 26°.8, August 27°.3, September 25°.5 and October 23°.1.

Due to the varieties of its coasts (which develop for over an area of 147 Km.), the beach amenities and the spectacular beauty of Mount Capanne (1019m) chain, it has rightly become one of the leading tourist resorts of international fame.

The main road network system (close to 160 Km) is totally asphalted. There are other panoramic roads in macadam for about 80 Km.

Indelible signs were impressed by the Medici at Portoferraio (in honour of Cosimo dei Medici the city was called Cosmopoli) and the Spanish who, opposite it, erected the fortress of St. James and the Focardo Fortress in Porto Azzurro.

The short reign of Napoleon (1814-1815, 9 months and 23 days) left significant reminders in the Mulini Palace, in the Villa of St. Martin, in the old churches of Portoferraio, in Marciana Alta (Madonna del Monte) and in other locations.

Elba Island is divided into eight Municipalities: Portoferraio, Campo nell’Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Rio Marina and Rio nell’Elba.

The famous wines (we refer you to our cellar) and the excellent cuisine (we refer you to our restaurant) together with the uncontaminated sea, the mild climate and the pure air, make Elba Island a tourist, holiday and health resort, which is ideal in all seasons.