Are you tempted by the sea waves splashing in the harbour in Tuscany? Then imagine the splendour - just ten kilometres through the waves from Piombino is Elba, an eighteen-kilometre island that was made for sea lovers!
But it was the Etruscans who first raised Elba above the waves, and they started mining iron ore here before AD. Since then, the largest island of today's Tuscany Archipelago National Park (which, along with Elba, includes Capraia, Pianosa and the setting of the famous novel Montecristo) has attracted tourists and celebrities from all over the world. Including Napoleon.
Napoleon's intermezzo
After his defeat at the famous Battle of Leipzig, Napoleon Bonaparte spent less than nine months on Elba in 1814. During this time of forced residence, he rekindled the flame of Elba's forgotten glory, building roads, villages and designing the present-day flag and coat of arms. He even built two villas, both of which can be found near the town of Portoferraio. The one called Villa San Martino was used for his personal life and is now a museum. He had it built to prove to his enemies that he wasn't going to leave Elba right away. After less than a year, he fled. You know the rest.
The island of summer sports
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