Colle Palombaia Beach

Colle Palombaia, also known as the beach of a hundred steps, is a bay on Elba's south coast, about 2.5 km from Marina di Campo on the road to Cavoli. The beach, around 300 metres long and fairly wide, is made of sand and dark pebbles and is enclosed by granite cliffs, with Cavoli to the west and Capo Poro to the east. The water is clear and turquoise; the seabed is shallow for the first few metres, then drops more sharply and turns pebbly.

Getting there

Along the road from Marina di Campo to Cavoli there is a large gravel car park, with more spaces along the roadside a little further on. From there you walk down to the beach on a long granite stairway: despite the nickname there are about two hundred steps (206 according to the local Pro Loco), and you'll have to climb them all again on the way back. It is therefore not the easiest access with pushchairs, heavy bags or limited mobility.

Which wind to go with

Sheltered from northerly winds, it is at its best with the tramontana (north wind), the grecale (north-east wind), the east wind and the mistral.

Facilities and tips

Colle Palombaia stays quiet even in high season. Facilities are minimal and there are no bars or restaurants: bring water and lunch, along with water shoes, handy on the pebbles and the seabed. The clear water and the cliffs on both sides make it good for snorkelling.