Welcome to Porto Azzurro on Elba Island

Follow the Porto Azzurro App and organize your holidays in Porto Azzurro.

Porto Azzurro is located in the center of the eastern side of Elba Island, and its marina is one of the most famous, characteristic, and safest on the coast.

Porto Azzurro covers an area of about 14 square kilometers and has a resident population of around 3,500 inhabitants. However, from spring until the end of October, tourism brings many Italian and foreign visitors to the town, especially Germans, English, and French who choose it for their holidays on Elba Island.

The origin of the town dates back to the 1600s when the Spanish built their fortress on the promontory to defend against predators and control the passage of military fleets through the Piombino Channel from Elba Island.

The territory of the municipality of Porto Azzurro, previously united with the territory of Capoliveri, was defined in 1906 when Capoliveri became an independent territory and the inhabitants of Longone concentrated in the bay, obtaining in 1947 the name change from Porto Longone to Porto Azzurro, in reference to its always blue gulf.

Arriving in the town of Porto Azzurro, with its marina (one of the main ones on Elba Island), you will be struck by the contrast of colors, the blue of the sea against the white of the dozens of moored boats. Piazza Matteotti and the promenade of Porto Azzurro are the main meeting points for strolling, chatting, shopping, and enjoying good food, entertained by numerous shows of all kinds (historical, cultural, musical) that enrich the summer season: among these, the now famous white night characteristically renamed "Notte Azzurra," which attracts thousands of young people every year.

In the streets of the center of Porto Azzurro, you can visit the main Church of Madonna del Carmine and the Oratory of the Sacred Heart of Mary, erected thanks to the munificence of the Spanish Governor Don Diego D'Alarcon, who died in 1730 and was buried here.

Also worth mentioning is the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore, located inside the San Giacomo Fortress, which has been used as a penitentiary since the 1800s. For security reasons, the church is not currently open to the public, but complete restoration and safety works are planned in the coming years, which will finally allow access.

Behind the center of Porto Azzurro and its S. Giacomo fortress, we find the locality of Monserrato, where the Spanish Sanctuary of the Madonna of Monserrato stands, a destination for pilgrimages and excursions, celebrated in the town every September 8 with various initiatives.

The Beaches of Porto Azzurro

Continuing along the coast via the Carmignani Walk and skirting the Spanish fortress, you will find Barbarossa Beach, named after the famous pirate Ariadeno. Today, it is the largest pebble beach in the area, complete with numerous tourist facilities such as hotels and campsites, bars, and restaurants. Proceeding along the Capobianco coast, with its various inlets perfect for diving and cliff jumping, you arrive at Reale Beach, a beautiful fine pebble beach rich in amenities.

A few more meters along the coast, the scenery changes dramatically as you reach Terranera Beach, where the shoreline is dark and shiny due to the abundance of minerals. Within the beach area, you’ll find the famous "Green Lake of Terranera", an artificial lake formed from the remnants of iron ore extraction and sulfur residues, which are beneficial for the skin and give the water its characteristic green color.

Porto Azzurro offers its guests many accommodation options, both in the town center, close to shopping and nightlife, and in the peaceful hills on the outskirts. You can choose from a variety of accommodations: the luxury of hotels, the organization of residences, the convenience of apartments or bed and breakfasts, and the carefree nature of camping holidays.

Porto Azzurro is also featured in the Isola d'Elba App.

Downloadable for free from Google Play and the Apple Store.

Plan your vacation on the Island of Elba by downloading the app for free on your Android or Apple smartphone or tablet. Search for Isola d'Elba App on the Play Store or Apple Store.

• The history of the Island of Elba.
• Over 70 beaches with descriptions, photos, and directions on how to reach them.
• Information on how to get to the Island of Elba and how to get around once you're there.
• Places to stay, including hotels, residences, campsites, apartments, and B&Bs, categorized by the various towns on Elba.
• All commercial activities, bars, restaurants, pizzerias, ice cream shops, diving centers, and services.
• Useful numbers for the Island of Elba, municipal services, local police, the hospital, and veterinarians on the island.
• Attractions and places to visit.
• Each point of interest includes a map that uses the GPS of your smartphone.