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- Our day trip to Elba Island started from our base camp near Pisa. A couple
hour drive down the coast and we arrived at the dock near Piombino. From
Piombino a 25 to 30 minute ride on a hydrofoil took us to the town of
Portoferraio on the eastern side of Elba Island.
Elba Island is found in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the western coast of Italy
and sits between Italy's mainland and Corsica. A short drive south along the
coastal road through Tuscany, from Pisa, past Livorno, to Piombino takes you
to the docks where you can catch a ferry to the island. See map (start by
zooming near Rome) Interactive map of Italy
Immediately upon putting our feet on solid ground we found ourselves in the
midst of numerous shops, sights, sounds, and smells of the culinary and
shopping delights that Elba Island has to offer. There were many souvenir
shops, as is to be expected, and several jewelry shops with many beautiful
pearls to please the eye.
One of our touring spots took us to the home where Napoleon lived while
exiled to the island. Although beautiful, one would have expected a larger
palatial residence for one with the stature of Napoleon, as described in history.
Another must see is the fortress upon the hill. It's a good upward walk but well
worth the experience and the views.
One can find the quaintness of the smaller villages as you travel further inland
but the coastal views and beautiful blue of the surrounding sea are
breathtaking. Most of the shops, eateries, and restaurants that we saw were
located near the dock areas.
When the touring of the island was complete, we re-boarded the hydrofoil and
returned to Piombino where we hopped in our car and drove back to Pisa.
Another "once in a lifetime" set of memories were added to our families
collection all within a reasonable budget.
