Logo of the municipality Rio

Rio Marina, town
of the municipality Rio

Rio Marina Tourist information

Neighbouring Municipalities:Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio
Zip Code: 57038 - Area code: (0565)
Country: Italy ­ Region: Tuscany ­ Province: Livorno (LI) – Tuscan Archipelago
Fractions: Cavo, Capo d'Arco, Ortano, Fornacelle
Inhabitants: 2192 (piaggesi)
Density: 115 ab/kmq
Surface: 19,54 Kmq
Altitude: Max 352 m - Min 0 m
Altitude Range: 352 m
Latitude: 42°48'51"84 N
Longitude: 10°25'37"92 E
Locator (WWL): JN52FT
Decimal Degrees: 42,8144; 10,4272
Day Degree: 1033
Climatic zone (a): C
Seismic Classification: very low seismicity
ISTAT code: 049015
Land Registry: H305
Starting Thermal Plants: 10 hours a day from November 15 to March 31.
Patron Saint: Santa Barbara, San Rocco
Festive Day: December 4, August 16

Rio Marina was one of the eight municipalities of Elba until January 1st, 2018. Then the two municipalities of Rio Marina and Rio nell'Elba merged into a single municipality called Rio. Rio Marina, is only 40 minutes by ferry from Piombino and is located in the heart of the mining area of Elba Island in the Eastern side, just behind the mountains from which once the iron was extracted.

In the past, Rio Marina was considered the economic capital of Elba, thanks to the strategic position of the nearby mines having a natural outlet to the sea.

Today Rio Marina has an equipped port featuring  Torre del Porto (Harbour’s Tower), built in 1535 by Jacopo Appiano V, Prince of Piombino. Thanks to its port, direct connections with the nearby harbour of Piombino are guaranteed; in fact for those who are going to stay in this side of the island it is much more comfortable to disembark in Rio Marina.

Behind the port there is the old town center with venues, restaurants and businesses of various kinds.

The territory of Rio Marina is characterized by a reddish colored land, because of the ferrous oxide that paints the mountains, for the erosion of the open air mines and for the old houses, some of which built within already exploited mines.

The village of Rio Marina was born in 1882 once it gained administrative independence from Rio Elba.

Its history is linked to that of the mining district which included various open air mines (Vigneria, Rialbano, Valley Jupiter), located a few kilometers away from the village. The last mine was closed in 1981, but the mining activities of the past have left  evident traces all over the territory.

To preserve this great open air mineral museum and its industrial architecture heritage comprising the structures and machinery of disused mines, a Mining Park has been founded and this can be visited through a guided tour on a little train.


Monday outdoor market from 8 a.m to 1 p.m in Rio Marina

Wednesday outdoor market from 8 a.m to 1 p.m in Cavo

The most important events within the Municipality of Rio Marina are:

  •  January, Palio dei Comuni Donkeys Race
  •  August 16, San Rocco Celebration- Patron Saint of Rio Marina
  •  Autumn, MT Miniera in Trail (Mine in Trail)
  •  December 4, Santa Barbara Celebration- Patron Saint 

Beaches close to Rio Marina

Rio Marina offers a wide range of beaches. Located on the North-Eastern Coast of Elba Island , Rio Marina represents the mining heart of Elba. The beaches are mostly characterized by fine and bright sand, while the Southern coast, is characterized by high cliffs reaching the sea and beautiful wild bays, which are mainly accessible by sea.

To reach the pretty bay of Capo d'Arco you will have to take a steep and not very easy path through a forest within a private property. Differently, the beach of Ortano is pretty easy to get to, and is made of fine sand mixed with gravels. The little beaches of the Porticciolo di Rio and Luisi d'Angelo can be reached by following the signs to Porticciolo along the road from Rio Marina. Take a dirt road until you reach a car park and from there step down to the beaches, shaded and well protected from the rocks.

Tiny and charming is also caletta di Marina di Gennaro which can be reached by leaving the car at the intersection between the dirt road of Porticciolo and the one coming from Rio Marina along the coast. La Torre beach is located in the center of Rio Marina, dominated by the ancient Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower). The Beach of Vigneria can only be reached by sea and is characterized by large reddish stones for the ferrous materials of which they are made.

Malpasso Rio,  requires instead a hard walk from the nearby beach of Ripa Bianca: it's rather awkward position, however, makes it a quiet place, where silence dominates all throughout the beach and the logs brought ashore by the storms confer a wild appearance to this place.

Capo d'Arco beach

Capo d'Arco beach

Small pebbly beach with cliffs.
Features: the rock in the form of crocodile.

Ortano beach

Ortano beach

Pebbly and sandy beach.
Features: the islet of Ortano in front of it.

Porticciolo di Rio beach

Porticciolo di Rio beach

Wild pebbly beach.
Features: shady and uncrowded.

Luisi d'Angelo beach

Luisi d'Angelo beach

Fine gravelly beach
Features: shady and wild

Torre Beach of Rio Elba

Torre Beach of Rio Elba

Pebbly beach next to the village
Features: quite busy

Vigneria beach

Vigneria beach

Small pebbly beach near Rio Marina
Features: located inside the mines

Malpasso di Rio beach

Malpasso di Rio beach

Pebbly beach near Rio Marina
Features: hard to reach

Ripa Bianca beach

Ripa Bianca beach

Beach with gravels and hematite dust
Features: rocky seabed

Cala dell'Alga

Cala dell'Alga

Sandy and seaweedy beach close to Cavo
Features: small protected cove with shallow water

Cala del Pisciatoio

Cala del Pisciatoio

Wild and uncrowded beach.
Features: pebbles mixed with stranded seaweed.

Cala Mandriola

Cala Mandriola

Wild and uncrowded beach.
Features: uncrowded and perfect for snorkeling.

Spiaggia di Topinetti

Spiaggia di Topinetti

Beach within the mining district of Rio Marina.
Features: brilliant black sand rich in minerals.

Cala Seregola

Cala Seregola

Beach within the mining district of Rio Marina.
Features: black sand mixed with pebbles.

Cavo Beach

Cavo Beach

Pebbly beach located in front of the Cavo's village.
Features: ideal for kids busy in season.

San Bennato Beach

San Bennato Beach

Pebbly and sandy beach in front of Cavo's village
Features: ideal for kids busy in season.

Marina di Gennaro Beach

Marina di Gennaro Beach

Small cove near the village of Rio Marina.
Features: ideal for those looking for a quiet beach.

Points of interest Rio Marina

Excursions

The mining Park of Rio Marina

The mining Park of Rio Marina

The mining Park of Rio Marina conserves and enhances what is left of nearly three millennium of culture tied to the i...

Museums

Mineral museum of Rio Marin

Mineral museum of Rio Marin

The Museum is located in Palazzo del Burò in Rio Marina old town, and it covers around 600 square meters.

Getting around by Bus

Shuttle bus in Rio

Shuttle bus in Rio

Free service during the summer season in the municipalities of Rio nell'Elba and Rio Marina which connects to beaches...

Geography of Elba

The Shiny Coast

The Shiny Coast

Coastline rich of open air minerals between Rio Marina and Cavo.

Events

Events in Rio Marina

Events in Rio Marina

The Municipality of Rio Marina offers a calendar rich of events throughout the year.

The Mines of Elba

The Mines of Rio

The Mines of Rio

Located north-west of the village of Rio Marina it encloses numerous mining sites that can be visited.

Monuments

Torre degli Appiani

Torre degli Appiani

Ancient tower built by Giacomo Appiano V to defend the village of Rio Marina.

Forno Etrusco di Capo Pero

Forno Etrusco di Capo Pero

Ancient Etruscan furnace situated in the Capo Pero near Rio Marina 


Places of worship at Elba

Church of St. Rocco

Church of St. Rocco

Originally as a chapel that was converted into a parish church following the birth of the town Rio Marina.

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