Ortano Beach

Ortano lies on Elba's east coast, halfway between Rio Marina and Rio nell'Elba, at the end of a deep valley that opens into a narrow gulf. In front of the beach rises the islet of Ortano, with a small cove you can reach by swimming or by pedalo. The beach, between 150 and 200 metres long, is made of sand and small pebbles, with very clear water and a partly rocky seabed.

Getting there

Take provincial road 26 between Rio nell'Elba and Rio Marina and turn off at the Ortano junction: from there about 2 km of paved road bring you to the free car park near the holiday village. From the car it is a 200 to 300 metre walk. In summer a municipal minibus links Ortano with the beaches as far as Cavo.

Which wind to go with

The beach is sheltered from westerly winds, so the best days are with the libeccio (south-west wind), the ponente (west wind) and the mistral. It is exposed to winds from the north-east to the south-east.

Facilities and tips

Ortano was an important iron-mining area: you can still see the old pier where ore was loaded onto ships and the tracks of the narrow-gauge railway that carried it to the sea. The beach is partly free and partly reserved for guests of the nearby holiday village; there is a bar, equipment rental, toilets and anti-jellyfish nets in the bay. Rubber shoes help on the rocky seabed, while the islet and the nearby coves are ideal for snorkelling.