The harbour on Elba's south-eastern side, dominated by the Fort San Giacomo of 1603. Elegant nightlife on the seafront, Black Madonna at the Monserrato Sanctuary, beaches of Reale, Barbarossa and the unique green lake of Terranera.
Porto Azzurro is a municipality of about 3,660 inhabitants overlooking the south-eastern coast of Elba Island, on a natural bay known as the Gulf of Mola. The municipal area (~13 km²) includes the main port, the villages of Mola (at the historic salt works) and Barbarossa, plus the southern slopes of Monte Calamita shared with Capoliveri.
The town's identity is inseparably linked to Spanish rule. In 1603 King Philip III of Spain ordered the construction of a fortress to guard the port, the only one accessible on the eastern side of the island, which became part of the so-called State of the Presidi. Fort San Giacomo (also called Fort Longone) is a mighty star-shaped construction still dominating the town today. After serving military functions for centuries, since 1858 the fort has been used as a Prison House — one of the oldest Italian penitentiary institutions still in operation.
The Sanctuary of Madonna di Monserrato, set in Mediterranean scrub 4 km from the centre, is also of Spanish origin: built in 1606 by Governor Pons y Leon, it houses a precious Black Madonna — a copy of the Catalan Madonna of Montserrat. It is still a place of pilgrimage today, especially for the September feast day. The city's original name, Porto Longone, was in use until 1947, when after World War II it was changed to Porto Azzurro for tourism reasons and to remove the association with the prison.
Today Porto Azzurro thrives on its tourist harbour — very popular with yachts and sailing boats — on the venues along the seafront, and on the splendid beaches of the eastern side: Reale (the closest to the centre), Barbarossa (sand and gravel, near the village of the same name), Terranera with its singular acidic green lake of mining origin, and Mola with its historic salt works. The municipality also hosts Elbaland, the island's first theme park dedicated to children.
A look at the most evocative places: the harbour, Fort San Giacomo, Madonna di Monserrato, the beaches of Reale, Barbarossa, Terranera and the village of Mola.
Between Fort San Giacomo, Madonna di Monserrato Sanctuary, Mineral Museum and the characteristic village overlooking the Gulf of Mola, the attractions of Porto Azzurro tell the Spanish history of eastern Elba.
Coastal village with pastel-coloured houses facing the port. Among the liveliest evening life on the island, restaurants and shops in the narrow streets. Called Porto Longone until 1947.
Imposing fortress founded on 8 May 1603 by Naples viceroy Giovanni Alfonso Pimentel de Herrera, count of Benavente, completed in 1605. Also known as Forte Longone or Forte Beneventano. Not visitable inside (houses prison), but admirable from Carmignani promenade.
Small freshwater mirror with greenish hues, separated from the sea by a thin strip of land. Adjacent to Terranera beach (dark iron sand), a unique natural and geological rarity of Elba.
Overlooking one of the most important marinas in the Tuscan Archipelago. Luxury boat stopover, jetties, bars and restaurants with view.
Here are the 4 main beaches of the eastern coast, from the Gulf of Mola to the slopes of Monte Calamita: from the sand of Reale and Barbarossa to the rare green lake of Terranera.
Barbarossa lies east of the centre of Porto Azzurro, in a small green bay facing south towards the Calamita peninsula. It is about 150 metres long and some thirty metres wide, with fine, smooth dark shingle mixed with sand and pebbles in red and grey tones. The name is said to recall the corsair Khayr al-Din Barbarossa, who raided the island in the 16th century, or the reddish cliff that encloses the small inlet on the left-hand side.
By car, take the provincial road from Porto Azzurro towards Rio Marina and turn right after about a kilometre, following the signs; there is a car park, but spaces near the sea are limited. Alternatively, walk from the village along the Carmignani promenade, an easy, scenic kilometre that skirts the walls of the 17th-century Forte San Giacomo, now a prison: about fifteen minutes on foot.
The bay is sheltered from strong westerly winds and from the libeccio (south-west wind): guides recommend it with the tramontana (north wind), the mistral and westerlies. Easterly winds reach it most directly.
A busy, well-equipped beach: a beach club with umbrellas and sunbeds, showers and cabins, lifeguards, bars and restaurants, pedalo and kayak hire and a diving school; a jellyfish net is put in place during the season. Part of it remains free, and the beach is listed as accessible to people with reduced mobility. The rocky inlets at either end are good for snorkelling.
Mola beach lies at the head of the Gulf of Mola, on Elba's eastern side, between Porto Azzurro and Capoliveri. It is a beach of sand mixed with gravel, around a hundred and fifty metres long, set in a closed, sheltered inlet where many boats anchor for the night in summer. Behind it lies the Mola wetland, one of only two on the island, protected by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
Take the main road from Portoferraio towards Porto Azzurro and, about a kilometre before the town, near the turn-off for Capoliveri, follow the dirt road that leads down to the sea. There is a large free car park next to the beach. The area is also served by local buses.
The enclosed gulf protects it from most winds: guides recommend it with the tramontana (north wind) and the mistral. It is, however, exposed to easterly winds, which blow straight into the gulf.
The beach is largely free, with one beach concession renting umbrellas, sunbeds and cabins, toilets, a bar and mooring buoys; on the right-hand side there is a boatyard. It is rarely crowded and is used mainly by boaters. The wetland is a stopover for many migrating birds: the volunteers who look after it have even recorded a spoonbill in the reeds near the river mouth. So move quietly along the edge of the reeds and bring binoculars.
Terranera lies on Elba's east coast, just north-east of Porto Azzurro, next to Reale beach. It is about 200 metres long and famous for its black sand mixed with haematite and small pebbles, which glints metallically in the sun: a legacy of the old open-cast iron mine where haematite and pyrite were extracted. A narrow strip of beach separates the sea from Lake Terranera, an emerald pool that formed when the excavation basin filled with water.
From Porto Azzurro, follow the provincial road towards Rio Marina for about 2 km and turn right following the signs for Capo d'Arco and Reale beach, where there is a large free dirt car park. From there, a short path of a few minutes crosses the former mining area to the beach. You cannot drive right up to it: the alternative dirt road ends at a barrier, with no parking.
The beach is sheltered from westerly winds: guides recommend it with the tramontana (north wind), the mistral and westerlies, while easterly winds hit the shore directly.
There are no facilities: bars and rentals are on nearby Reale beach. There is no natural shade, so bring water and an umbrella; water shoes help on the pebbly stretches. The lake is fenced off and swimming in it is forbidden for safety reasons, partly because of its sulphurous water. Snorkellers will find rocks and remains of the old quarries nearby, including the big rock known as the Sottomarino (the submarine).
Porto Azzurro is located on Elba's south-eastern side, on the Gulf of Mola. It can be reached in 20 minutes by car from Portoferraio (15 km).
All types of tourist activities in Porto Azzurro: rich offer of hotels on the harbour, fish restaurants, water activities and evening entertainment on the seafront.
Everything you need to plan your visit.
Every municipality on Elba has its own identity. After Porto Azzurro and its Spanish past, discover the Medicean capital, the village of Capoliveri (very close) and the Etruscan mines of Rio.
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