Visitor information

ELBA ISLAND

Elba, the pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago, the island without frontier: the sea, the beaches, the green of the countryside, the small fortress towns, archaeological treasures, chestnut woods and more, has existed for what seems like an eternity. Elba is the largest among the Tuscan islands and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia. It is 10 km far from the mainland and it has an area of 224 square kilometres. Its coast stretches for 147 km and its main roads cover totally 190 km. It has a population of about 30000 and it is divided into 8 municipalities. Elba is famous, of course, for Napoleon's stay which altered its history (you can visit Napoleon's San Martino a few minutes away from the school site at Biodola) but by no means summarizes it; throughout the island you find traces of successive civilizations, from the Etruscans to the Romans, the Saracens, the Pisans and the French.

Elba gives the sensation of so much in so little as in the small spaces of the island we travel over tourist attractions and natural landscapes of such contrast; areas dried out by sun and wind, others green with life, sandy or pebble stone beaches, rocky coastlines and cliffs. Elba has modern and well-equipped tourist facilities: museums, sport centers, diving centers, a golf club, amusement parks for children and adults, as well as sailing schools.

TRAVELING TO ELBA

• By air

The Marina di Campo Airport offers direct links to a small number of Italian and European cities: Bergamo, Berne, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Milano (Orio al Serio), Munich, Vienna, and Zürich. For most travellers, flying to the Pisa Airport is more convenient. Many traditional and low-cost airlines fly to Pisa. Note that the school will provide transfer from/to Pisa (see details below). A taxi from Marina di Campo to Hotel del Golfo costs about 20 EUR.

• By ferry

The main ferry terminal in Elba is Portoferraio. The nearest ferry terminal on the mainland is located in Piombino (70 km south of Pisa, reachable by train). It takes approximately 1.5 hours to get to Elba from Piombino. For ferry schedules see Moby or Toremar websites. A taxi from Portoferraio to Hotel del Golfo costs about 30-35 EUR.     

TRANSFER PISA -> ELBA -> PISA

We will organise a transfer from Pisa to Hotel del Golfo on Saturday, 5 September, and back to Pisa  on Sunday, 13 September. The cost is EUR 75.

Tentative Schedule:

• Saturday 5 September 2008

13:45 Meeting in front of the railway station (Pisa Centrale)
14:12 Departure from Pisa Centrale (train)
16:00 Arrival in Piombino Marittima
16:30 Departure from Piombino Marittima (ferry)
18:30 Arrival at Hotel del Golfo

• Sunday 13 September 2008

07:00 Departure from Hotel del Golfo (taxi + ferry)
08:30 Arrival in Piombino Marittima
09:25 Departure from Piombino Marittima (train)
11:26 Arrival in Pisa