Municipality of (en)Portoferraio
Portoferraio Tourist information
Neighbouring Municipalities: Marciana, Campo nell'Elba, Rio nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro
Zip Code: 57037 Area code: (0565)
Fractions: Acquaviva, Biodola, Magazzini, San Giovanni, San Martino, Scaglieri, Schiopparello, Valle di Lazzaro, Viticcio, Volterraio, Isola di Montecristo
Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Province: Livorno (LI) – Tuscan Archipelago
Inhabitants: 12136 (portoferraiesi)
Density: 255 ab/kmq
Altitude: Max 645 m - Min 0 m
Altitude Range: 645 m
Surface: 47,46 Kmq
Latitude: 42°48'45"00 N
Longitude: 10°18'56"16 E
Decimal Degrees: 42,8125; 10,3156
Locator (WWL): JN52DT
Day Degree: 1025
Climatic zone (a): C
Starting Thermal Plants: 10 hours a day from November 15 to March 31.
Seismic Classification: very low seismicity
ISTAT code: 049014
Land Registry: G912
Patron Saint: San Cristino
Festive Day: April 29
Portoferraio is a small town with a lot of history, located upon a spur of rocks and surrounded by the Fortezza Medicea (Medici Fortress). With its “Natural” port, Portoferraio is considered the county seat of Elba Island, and the main site of most of the offices and public services of the island.
It is also the main communication centre thanks to a great number of daily naval connections with the port of Piombino. Here many tourists come every day in search of a memorable holiday.
The town still preserves the memory of the Medici renaming it as Cosmopoli in 1548, in honor of Cosimo de’ Medici, who rebuilt and fortifies the city destroyed by the Saracens.
From the architect's plans Giovambattista Bellucci and Giovanni Camerini, were built Forte Falcone, Forte Stella (recognizable from the lighthouse) and Torre della Linguella (at the entrance of the harbor) in order to defend and protect the citizen’s safety from the frequent attacks by pirates.
Once you get to Portoferraio with the ferry, you will see the great Medici fortifications dominating over the Bay.
Beautiful is also the promenade leading from the tourist port to the inside walls of the old town, especially during the evening when the road is closed to vehicles and you can easily go for shopping.
Portoferraio looks like an attractive place to visit, thanks to its historic center, characterized by narrow streets behind the harbor, Piazza Cavour and Piazza della Repubblica, old buildings used as shops and restaurants on the ground floor and as residences with flowered balconies on the upper floors.
From the old town of Portoferraio some narrow streets and panoramic squares climb up to reach the Medici fortifications and Napoleon’s residence Villa dei Mulini situated on the top of Portoferraio.
Portoferraio was until not long ago the centre of iron and steel industry, then it was dismantled following the bombing of World War II. Although the town did not develop much in terms of tourism, it managed to preserves itself over the years.
The other historic aspect related to Portoferraio is linked to the presence of the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who stayed there from May 3, 1814 to February 26, 1815, leaving important evidences (180 000 in the world,including many in Elba Island). During his “299”days stay, he had to settle for a 8000 hectares field where he built his residences Villa dei Munlini and Villa San Martino.
The municipal territory of Portoferraio offers very beautiful traits of coast with fascinating tourist locations and uncontaminated beaches.
First of all the part of coast extending from the urban beach of Le Ghiaie until the promontory of Enfola: a white tall cliff characterized by many little coves and bays with crystal clear sea.
The promontory of Enfola looks like a green hill joined to the rest of the island by a narrow strip about few metres long. Here we also see a Marfaraggio, the ground structure of a tuna fishing net (today headquarters of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park), to remind us the profound vocation of this area to tuna fishing until a few years ago.
There are many beach resorts and residential areas within the municipality of Portoferraio. The most important and furnished ones to accommodate tourists are Viticcio, Biodola, Magazzini, Enfola, San Giovanni, Concia di Terra, San Martino, Scaglieri, Forno and Carpani.
Friday outdoors market from 8:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
The most important events in the town of Portoferraio are:
- April 29 San Cristino - patron saint of Portoferraio
- May International European Market
- End June Marelba Ghiaie beach in Portoferraio
- July Fish Festival in Loc. Enfola
- Late August Sbaracco in Portoferraio
- September International Festival (Elba Musical Island of Europe)
- December 31 New Year's Eve in Piazza in Portoferraio
District of Portoferraio
There are important tourist locations and beach resorts withIn the municipality of Portoferraio. There are in fact fully furnished tourist facilities, such as Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Agritourisms, Campsites and Apartments which are ideal to spend your holiday.
Among these places we recall: La Biodola, Il Viticco, Enfola, I Magazzini, San Giovanni, San Martino and Acquabona.
San Giovanni
Enfola
Biodola
Viticcio
Acquabona
Carpani
Magazzini
Ottone
Schiopparello
Beaches from Portoferraio
The municipality of Portoferraio extends on the northern side of the island along its 24.5 km long coast.
Its coastline is almost entirely accessible by land, that is why many beaches are easy to reach, although there are not many possibilities of parking and you have to leave your car parked along the road.
The coast of Portoferraio is often characterized by white pebbles beaches and by a high coast surrounded by the Mediterranean maquis. The morphology of this coastal stretch, makes the water particularly crystalline because of alternating stretches of gravel, sand and seaweeds seabeds.
The beaches belonging to the town of Portoferraio, are in fact characterized by a transparent water with shades of green cobalt. The main beaches stretch along the north-western coast and among all we remember the sandy beach of Biodola, with its wonderful gulf which also contains the beaches of Forno and Scaglieri.
One of the most famous and popular beaches also because of its proximity to the town center is Le Ghiaie beach, characterized by white pebbles with overlooking Scoglietto.
Among the various beaches we suggest to visit: Enfola beach, the beach of Viticcio, the beach of Magazzini, Schiopparello Beach, the lovely beach of Sansone and the wonderful beaches of Capobianco and Padulella.
Biodola beach
Wide equipped beach with sand.
Features: suitable for children and disabled people.
Scaglieri beach
Small sandy beach suitable for children.
Features: partly equipped with facilities.
Enfola beach
Two gravelly beaches on the Northern Coast.
Features: located on the peninsula of Capo d'Enfola.
Acquaviva beach
Beach without services close to Portoferraio.
Features: fine gravel mixed with pebbles.
Capobianco beach
Lovely beach near Portoferraio.
Features: white gravels and crystal clear water.
Padulella beach
Equipped beach close to Portoferraio.
Features: white gravel and crystal clear water.
Cala dei Frati beach
Small Cove close to Portoferraio.
Features: white pebbles - no services.
San Giovanni beach
Points of interest Portoferraio
The Municipality of Portoferraio retains the biggest historical and artistic heritage in Elba. There are many interesting things to see from the Napoleonic residences of Villa dei Mulini and Villa San Martino to the Fortezze Medicee. Other important things to visit are:The Vigilanti Theatre, the Duomo, The Church of Misericordia, the cultural centre De Laugier and the Pinacoteca Foresiana (Foresiana Art Gallery), The Palace of the Municipality,Villa Romana delle Grotte, the Church of Santo Stefano, The Linguella Tower and the Archeological Museum.
Museums
Open Air Museum of Italo Bolano
Villa Napoleon San Martino
Napoleon’s windmill villa
Museo Archeologico della Linguella
Pinacoteca Foresiana
Foresiana Library
Cinema and Theatre
Vigilanti Theater
Getting around by Bus
Shuttle Bus in Portoferraio
Geography of Elba
Diving
The Scoglietto
Monuments
Volterraio Castle
Linguella villa
Linguella Tower
Villa delle Grotte
De’ Medici fortresses
Fort Falcone
Fort Stella
English Fort
Biscuit Palace
Galleass of dockyard
Walks
White Beaches
Viticcio - Biodola
Portoferraio Center
Botanical Garden - Ottone
Places of worship at Elba
Portoferraio Duomo
Mercy Church
Blessed Sacrament Church
Saint Stephen Church in Trane
Elbaworld suggests
What to visit
Discover places and attractions nearby.
Recommended excursions
Discover incredibly beautiful excursions on Elba Island.