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Island of Elba 
Municipality of (en)Porto Azzurro
Porto Azzurro Tourist information
Neighbouring Municipalities: Capoliveri - Portoferraio - Rio Marina - Rio nell'Elba
Zip Code: 57036 - Area code: (0565)
Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Province: Livorno (LI) – Tuscan Archipelago
Inhabitants: 4578 (longonesi, portazzurrini, vaporini)
Fractions: Barbarossa, Reale, Mola
Altitude: Max 516 m - Min 0 m
Altitude Range: 516 m
Surface: 13,30 Kmq
Density: 343,44 ab/kmq
Latitude: 42°46'4"44 N
Longitude: 10°23'48"12 E
ISTAT code: 049013
Decimal Degrees: 42,7679; 10,3967
Locator (WWL): JN52ES
Day Degree: 1023
Climatic zone (a): C
Land Registry: E680
Starting Thermal Plants: 10 hours a day from November 15 to March 31.
Seismic Classification: very low seismicity
Patron Saint: San Giacomo
Festive Day: July 26
Porto Azzurro was originally known as Portolongone (because of its former elongated shape towards the Gulf of Mola).
Porto Azzurro looks like a lovely little town of Elba Island, located at the foot of the promontory which culminates in Fortezza di Longone (Longone Fortress), also known as San Giacomo (for the church located inside the walls having the same name). The small tourist center, rises within a protected bay, the largest of the Eastern side which was used as a natural port in the Tyrrhenian sea routes since ancient times.
Today Porto Azzurro looks truly picturesque with its pastel-colored little houses that frame the port, and its beautiful square of the harbour (Piazza Matteotti), a meeting point for the locals and the heart of social life in Elba. It is around the square and the main streets of the harbor Via Vitaliani e Banchina 4 Novembre that most shops, venues and restaurants of Porto Azzurro have flourished.
The town of Porto Azzurro is characterized by narrow streets like Via Solferino, Via dei Martiri and Via XXV Aprile as well as charming corners that host a great number of businesses.
The main streets of the old historic town of Porto Azzurro, lead to the very popular Piazza Matteotti.
In addition to seaside tourism, in the municipal area adjacent to the village of Porto Azzurro there is a considerable agricultural activity, which is mainly in piana di Mola (plain of Mola), and in the valleys of Monserrato and Reale with their beautiful countrysides rich in vineyards and orchards.
In history, Porto Azzurro was annexed to the kingdom of Naples in 1714 until 1801, when it was given to the French who had already occupied the whole Tuscany. In 1815 after the fall of Napoleon, Porto Azzurro passed to the Granducato di Toscana (Grand Duchy of Tuscany) until the unification of Italy. From the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, together with Portoferraio and Marciana Marina, it was the largest fishing center of Elba Island, favoring fishermen immigration from Genoa, Naples, Sicily and the island of Ponza until recent times.
Saturday outdoors market from 8:00 a.m to 1 p.m
The most important events in the town of Porto Azzurro are:
- May 1 Barbarossa in Festa
- May 31 Festa dei Fiori (Festival of Flowers)
- End July - Festa del Pescatore (Fishermen Festival)
- September 8 Festa della Madonna di Monserrato (Holy Mary of Monserrato celebration)
Foto by Porto Azzurro
District of Porto Azzurro
The Municipality of Porto Azzurro is not so extended as opposed to other municipalities of Elba. Among the most important places to visit there are: the beaches of Porto Azzurro, the small beach Pianotta very close to the town square, the black beach and laghetto di Terranera (Terranera lake), the beach of Mola one of the few beaches for dogs and equipped with spaces for animals, the beach of La Rossa and the famous beaches of Reale and Barbarossa. The latter takes the name from the pirate who, according to the legend, landed there before raiding the island and destroying Grassera (old mining village of the island dating back to the thirteenth and fourteenth century.
Barbarossa
Reale
Mola
Beaches from Porto Azzurro
The beaches belonging to the municipality of Porto Azzurro, are located in the North-Eastern side of the island. Its coast is characterized by a sharp contrast between the lush green of the vegetation and the reddish color of the land which indicates a strong presence of minerals. The beaches are relatively small looking wild and unexplored at first sight with amazing seabed for snorkelling and diving lovers. The most popular of all the beaches within this territory, are Barbarossa and Reale.
While Mola offers one of the few beaches for dogs equipped with spaces for animals.
In the near distances of the village there are two small beaches, the one of Pianotta rising behind the dock and very close to the town square, and the tiny beach of La Rossa allowing refreshments from summer heat; the latest one offers bathing services including boat, umbrellas and sunbeds rentals.
To get to the nearby resort of Barbarossa, drive along the provincial road towards Rio nell’Elba for about 1,5 km, then turn right once you find the indication. If you keep driving along the provincial road you will find other indications on the right to get to the beaches of Reale and Terranera. The beaches of Barbarossa and Reale offer bathing services, bar and rentals, while the beach of Terranera deserves to be visited for its spectacular bright black sand because of the nearby iron and minerals deposits. Behind it there is a very interesting lake (laghetto di Terranera) separated from the sea by a dune, where the sweetish water is rich in sulphur anhydride and where its shores looks bright for the deposits of hematite.
The seabed of this area is a paradise for sea explorers who will be able to see big red gorgonians, great extension of seagrass and amazing multicolored spirographs. Deeper down it will be possible to see giant groupers, breams and lobsters.
Barbarossa beach
Sandy and gravelly beach nearby Porto Azzurro.
Features: ideal for children and divers.
Points of interest Porto Azzurro
Interesting to visit in Porto Azzurro are Oratorio del Sacro Cuore di Maria (Oratory of the Sacred Heart of Mary) and the sanctuary of Madonna di Monserrato 3 km away from the village and built by the Spaniards in memory of the famous sanctuary near Barcelona.
We definitely recommend you to visit Fort San Giacomo and Fort Focardo, both built by Felipe II of Spain in 1563, to defend the Gulf of Mola which was the basis of the Spanish fleet.
For hikers: from Valle di Monserrato start some very beautiful paths to be discovered by mountain bike or by foot. While from the village of Porto Azzurro you can take a panoramic trail that runs along the coast and begins at the foot of the fortress prison of Forte San Giacomo until the lovely beach of Barbarossa. The beaches of Barbarossa and Reale are an ideal starting point for those who love diving: the seabed in front of Porto Azzurro is in fact a paradise for sea explorers who will be able to see big red gorgonians, great extension of seagrass and amazing multicolored spirographs. Deeper down it will be possible to see giant groupers, breams and lobsters.
Getting around by Bus
Shuttle Bus in Porto Azzurro
Events
Excursions
Geography of Elba
Pond of Terranera
Monuments
Forte Longone
Places of worship at Elba
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Museums
Agricultural Museum
Elbaworld suggests
What to visit
Discover places and attractions nearby.
Recommended excursions
Discover incredibly beautiful excursions on Elba Island.
