Wreck Beach - Pomonte

From the square in Pomonte, on Elba's west coast, a small bridge on the left leads to the Spiaggia del Relitto: a beach of small and medium round pebbles washed by exceptionally clear water. The name comes from the Elviscot, a 62-metre cargo ship carrying timber from Naples to Marseille: on 10 January 1972, during a storm, it was driven onto the Ogliera rocks. Today the hull lies on its side at a depth of around 12 metres, roughly 150 metres from the shore.

Getting there

Pomonte is on the provincial road that loops around the western part of the island, between Fetovaia and Chiessi. You can drive or take the regular bus; in summer a municipal beach shuttle also runs. In the village, follow the road that leads down to the sea from the church square and cross the little bridge: there is a car park in front of the beach.

Which wind to go with

The beach faces south-west, so the sea is calm with the grecale and levante, the north-easterly and easterly winds that blow offshore here. With the libeccio (south-west wind) the waves roll straight in.

Facilities and tips

There is a beach club renting out umbrellas, sunloungers, pedal boats and canoes, plus a bar. The wreck is one of the best-known snorkelling spots on Elba: the hull, covered in seaweed and colourful sponges, can be seen well from the surface. It is a 150-metre swim in open water, though, so take a surface buoy or a pedal boat. Reef shoes are useful.