Eastern Elba
The situated Fr. 14 km from Portoferraio the old fishing town of PORTO AZZURRO has been in 1603 r. heavily fortified by Philip III of Spain, to protect them from constant raids. The fortress built by him today serves as a prison, but on the arrows it says only "Fortezza", so as not to scare away tourists. A walk around the outer embankments leads to the store, in which m. in. clay and products from prison workshops.
In addition to the fortress, Porto Azzurro has other attractions. Near Piazza Matteetti are traditional, spectacular shops without a front wall, further beautiful houses with balconies; there is also the possibility of swimming among the rocks east of the port. As expected, not easy to get accommodation. Try to find something in Resodence Porto Azzurro, via d'Alarcom 58 (*0565/95527), with twos from 40 000 L, or go for help to the information booth at the intersection of roads to Portoferraio and Rio Marina (9.30-12.30 i 16.00-20.00). Self-service restaurant Rosticceria d'Alarcon and Pizzeria Giannini, both on via d'Alarcon, is the best of cheap premises.
From Porto Azzurro, the road to the north runs below the ruins of Volterraio Castle to the town of RIO NELL'ELBA, where iron ore is mined, and the port of RIO MARINA. Next is the sunken and quite shabby, polluted city of CAVO — the beach has a dirty gray color, very unusual for Elba. In summer, a hydrofoil to Piombino runs from here.
It is much more pleasant to spend time in CAPOLIVERI, south of Porto Azzurro. It is a city with a natural defense system – its location on a peninsula guarantees control over all roads from "inland" Elba. There is an atmosphere of work and abundance, and old, compact streets do not have too many tourist attractions.
However, there are a number of restaurants — Da Beppe, via Roma 25, has moderate prices: II Chiasso, via Sauro (closed. wt.) High, but the fish and sea dishes served here are delicious. In the city there is also a one-star hotel Golf o Azzurro, via Appiani 5 (*0565/968167).
A much larger concentration of hotels can be found even further south in MORCONE, PARETI, TRAPPOLI and NAREGNO, each of which has a beach. Two recommendable travel-star hotels in Naregno are Fon te di Rose (• 0565/968788) and La Voce del Mare (•0565/968455). At The Sugar Reef in Trappoli on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are performed by jazz bands.
Islands around Elba: Capraia and Montecristo
Of the four islands around Elba Gorgon and Pianosa are the seat of prisons, with a ban on entry for unauthorized persons; there is also a prison on Capraia, but there are also some tourists on the island; Montecristo has a nature reserve and you can only stay there during the daytime. Ships on Capraia run from Marciana Marina and Portoferraio, and to Montecristo from Porto Azzurro and Marina di Campo.
Capraia
About 400 people live on CAPRAIA, mountainous and volcanic "goat island", dotted with Roman ruins and Romanesque churches and fortresses, the construction of which was started by the Pisans, and the Genoese graduated. In the northern part of the city is an agricultural prison open, and in the west a series of large grottoes; The Grotto di Parino was in the V century. used by monks for meditation, and in the Grotta della Foca seals settled.
The only built-up area is the city of CAPRAIA ISOLA, with the port located half a kilometer away on the only paved road. Here, too, the only hotel is located, Milano (•0565/95032) and two pensions: II Saracino (•0565/95018) and Da Beppone (• 0565/95001). Some of the people spending the night there are visitors to the residents of the open agricultural prison in the north of the island..
Montecritso
MONTECCRISTO is a protected nature reserve 40 km south of Elba: almost round granite island overgrown with dense forest. He owes some fame to the novel of Alexander Dumas, The Count of Monte Gristo. The inspiration was a speaking legend, that Benedictine monks once buried a treasure here. However, there is no indication of this, for a writer to ever visit the island.
Today, the only residents are the guard and his family, quartered in the royal villa in the past. You can come here during the day to Cale Maestra, but it is only allowed to stay on the beach. Visiting the forests or ruins of the monastery is forbidden.