Surroundings of Portoferraio

Around Portoferraio, there is a mix of rocky coves, small sandy or pebble beaches, and hills covered with Mediterranean vegetation. The northern coast, towards Enfola and Sansone, includes some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. It is characterized by cliffs and secluded beaches, accessible by trails, ideal for enjoying the clear sea.
To the south, Lacona and Laconella offer large sandy beaches accompanied by campsites and seasonal accommodations. Promontories like Capo di Stella or Monte Fonza are suitable for hiking and offer wide panoramas over the surrounding bays. In terms of culture, Villa San Martino recalls Napoleon’s stay.

Things to do and see around Portoferraio

• The Enfola Peninsula / Monte d’Enfola: its beaches, World War II bunkers, panoramic views.
• Spiaggia di Sansone: very beautiful pebble/white stone beach, clear water, diving.
• Scaglieri & Biodola: golden beach, village on the rock, beautiful sunset, comfort and services.
• Villa di San Martino & Demidoff Gallery: Napoleon’s summer residence, museum with Napoleonic collections, beautiful gardens.
• Lacona: large golden sandy beach (the largest after Marina di Campo), dunes, calm sea.
• Laconella & Punta della Contessa: quieter beaches, ideal for those seeking untouched nature.
• Monte Fonza: panoramic hiking, 360° views, nature.
• Capo di Stella: promontory separating Lacona Bay and Stella Bay; beautiful viewpoints, walking paths.
• Hills around Monte San Martino, hamlets, etc.

Map of the Portoferraio surroundings

Sansone Beach

Sansone Beach, northwest near Portoferraio, is a white pebble beach with very clear water, making it perfect for diving.
It is surrounded by a typical white cliff of the northern coast, creating a striking contrast with the blue waters. It is quite wild, with no tourist facilities, though there are one or two bars/restaurants about 100 meters away.
Access is via the Portoferraio – Enfola road, then a trail. In high season, parking can be difficult and paid.

Right next to it, Sorgente Beach is a small white sandy beach with crystal-clear and peaceful waters.

Seccione Beach

Seccione Beach stretches for about 180 meters with its dark-colored pebbles, backed by cliffs covered with Mediterranean vegetation. Access is via a long staircase, making it less crowded than Portoferraio, with few tourist facilities.

Monte and Capo d’Enfola

The Enfola Peninsula is one of the most characteristic points in the north of the island, connected to the rest of Elba by a narrow isthmus. There are two beaches: a northern side, more rustic and wild, often used as a landing spot by fishermen, and a southern side beach, more sheltered in the Gulf of Viticcio with pebbles or stones.
Besides sea bathing, Enfola is rich in remnants of its military past: bunkers, firing posts, coastal defense structures, as well as the buildings of the former tuna factory (tonnara).

The Enfola Trail is a pleasant walk, lined with Mediterranean vegetation (rosemary, myrtle, etc.). The panorama from the summit or the promontory offers a beautiful view of the surrounding coastline.

Roman Villa of the Grottos

Located about 5 km southeast of Portoferraio, the Roman Villa of the Grottos (Villa Romana delle Grotte) dates back to the late 1st century BC, perched approximately 50 meters above sea level, offering a panoramic view of the Gulf of Portoferraio. The villa is organized on two terraces and features cisterns and baths. It takes its name from the artificial grottoes present on the site, used for collecting rainwater. Mosaics and remains of walls bear witness to its former splendor.

Scaglieri & Biodola

Scaglieri is a small hamlet perched on the rocks along Biodola Bay, about 7 km from Portoferraio. It is a charming location: beach, waterfront restaurants, apartments, and a campsite near the sea. 
Scaglieri Beach itself is medium-sized, about 140 m long, with fine golden sand and a gentle seabed, framed on both sides by small villages or rocky formations offering views and moments of tranquility. 
Visitors can enjoy comfort with available services and a natural environment with Mediterranean vegetation. Nearby Biodola also features a large fine-sand beach lined with Mediterranean vegetation. It is easily accessible and well-equipped, making it one of the most visited beaches on the island.

Villa San Martino and Museum

The Villa di San Martino, often called Villa Bonaparte, was Napoleon’s summer residence during his exile on the island of Elba (1814-1815), 5 km from Portoferraio. Originally a rural house, it was restored and enlarged by Napoleon to make it a more comfortable place to stay.
The complex consists of two parts: the historic villa, of simple and sober architecture, and the Demidoff Gallery, a neoclassical-style building added in 1851 by Prince Anatole Demidoff, husband of Mathilde Bonaparte. This gallery, decorated with columns and monumental ornaments, was designed to house the rich collection of Napoleonic memorabilia that Demidoff had assembled. It displays engravings, lithographs, busts, portraits of Napoleon and his family, as well as period objects related to his exile. The gardens surrounding the villa offer a calm atmosphere and pleasant views of the surrounding countryside, contrasting with the more solemn character of the Emperor’s former winter residence, the Palazzina dei Mulini in Portoferraio.

Lacona and Laconella

On the southern coast of the island, Lacona features a long beach of nearly 1.2 km, with fine golden sand, in a south-facing bay, sheltered by the headlands of Capo Fonza to the west and Capo Stella to the east. Ideal for families, young people, and water sports activities.
The dunes behind Lacona beach are particularly notable, one of the few remaining dune areas on the island.
At Laconella, the beach is smaller and quieter, with light sand and some pebbles.
At Punta della Contessa, between Laconella and Lacona, there is a small, rather wild rocky cove.

Capo di Stella

The Capo di Stella is a promontory that separates the two Gulf of Lacona and Stella, suitable for hiking in unspoilt nature, and offering beautiful views. The trail “Percorso di Capo Stella” allows a loop from Lacona.

Monte Fonza & the surrounding hills

The Monte Fonza reaches an altitude of about 300 meters, crossed by trails of almost 8 km to go around it. The panoramas open onto the five surrounding gulfs (including Marina di Campo, Lacona, Stella, Porto Azzurro, and even distant views of the nearby islands)
A beautiful place to hike and enjoy nature.

Ranking of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the Central Part of Elba Island

Northern Coast

1. Sansone (Portoferraio): White pebble beach, turquoise water, framed by beautiful cliffs, ideal for diving. Accessible by a staircase, very photogenic.
2. Capo Bianco (Portoferraio): Pebble beach under white limestone cliffs, spectacular setting with clear seabed, beautiful visual contrasts.
3. Topinetti: Black sand and white pebble beach, mineral contrast, small and wild, ideal for photography and relative calm.
4. Biodola: Golden sand beach with pine and Mediterranean scrub backdrop, clear water, very wide, open view over the gulf.
5. Padulella: Small cove with light pebbles near Portoferraio, pleasant visual setting.
6. Procchio: Large fine sand beach, regular, very accessible, pleasant but less “spectacular” than others.
7. Schiopparello / Le Prade: Mixed sand/gravel beach with tamarisks, pleasant setting, shaded areas, view of the gulf but less dramatic.
8. Magazzini: Sand/pebble beach near the small port, interesting for a quiet stop but little visual relief.
9. Le Viste and small coves: Small secondary beaches, charming for tranquility, but modest in visual impact.

Southern Coast

1. Laconella: Fine sand beach in a protected setting, small sheltered bay, view of headlands and Mediterranean vegetation, clear water.
2. Norsi (Baia di Norsi): Sand/pebble beach, clear water, surrounding headlands, less developed, more natural and wild setting.
3. Colle Palombaia: Small rocky/pebble cove with scrub behind, wild setting, clear waters, often sparsely visited.
4. Galenzana: Mixed sand/pebble beach, surrounded by vegetation, access via path, calm natural atmosphere.
5. Margidore: Isolated sand/gravel beach, scrub backdrop, calm and clear water, little visited.
6. Fonza: Pebble/stony beach, access via track, quiet setting, sandy seabed and transparent water.
7. Lacona: Large sandy beach, highly developed, very crowded but view of Capo Fonza / Capo Stella; less “natural” spectacle than previous coves.
8. Capo Stella: Pareti, Zuccale, Felciaio coves: Small coves accessible only by trail or boat, charming but modest in length and visibility from the coast.
9. Lido di Capoliveri / Morcone: Organized beaches with tourist services, comfortable but less visually “spectacular”.

Things to Do on Elba Island

Links and Information

• Visit Tuscany – Three Days on Elba Island: Beaches, Hiking, and History – Itinerary covering Enfola (coves, Monte d’Enfola), Lacona (sand, dunes), Laconella (calm nature), Capo di Stella (walks, views), and snorkeling, with practical tips.
• AllTrails – Hiking in Portoferraio – GPS maps for Monte d’Enfola (easy trail, bunkers, views), Monte Fonza (360° panoramic, moderate, 5-7 km), and Capo di Stella, with downloadable tracks and reviews.
• Wikipedia – Principality of Elba – Article detailing the history of Napoleon’s exile on Elba, including his residences such as Villa San Martino and Palazzina dei Mulini.
• Visit Tuscany – Villa San Martino – Official English page on Villa San Martino (Napoleonic residence, Demidoff Gallery with Demidoff heritage), plus links to beaches (Enfola, Biodola) and hikes (Monte Fonza, Capo di Stella) around Portoferraio, with maps and historical context.
• Tripadvisor – Villa San Martino – Reviews and guide in English on Villa San Martino & Demidoff Gallery (museum, gardens, hours, prices), with mentions of nearby beaches (e.g., Enfola) and photos.