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

Cala dell'Alga
Sandy and seaweedy beach close to Cavo
Features: small protected cove with shallow
water

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

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

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

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

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

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
Museums

Mineral museum of Rio Marin
Getting around by Bus

Shuttle bus in Rio
Geography of Elba
Events

Events in Rio Marina
The Mines of Elba

The Mines of Rio
Monuments

Torre degli Appiani

Forno Etrusco di Capo Pero
Places of worship at Elba

Church of St. Rocco
Elbaworld suggests

What to visit
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Recommended excursions
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