View source for Elba

{{Short description|Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy}}
{{Redirect|Elba Island|the island in Michigan|Elba Island (Michigan)|other uses|Elba (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Elbe|Ebla}}
{{Infobox islands
| image_name       = Aerial view of Elba 2.jpg
| image_caption    = Seen from the west, [[Monte Capanne]] in foreground
| map_image        = Tuscan archipelago.png
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = Isola d'Elba
| native_name_link =
| nickname         =
| location         = [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|42|46|48|N|10|16|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[Tuscan Archipelago]]
| total_islands    = 7
| major_islands    = Elba, [[Gorgona, Italy|Gorgona]], [[Capraia]], [[Pianosa]], [[Montecristo]], [[Isola del Giglio]], and [[Giannutri]]
| area_km2         = 224
| length_km        = 29
| width_km         = 18
| coastline_km     = 147
| highest_mount    = [[Monte Capanne]]
| elevation_m      = 1018
| country          = Italy
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Regions of Italy|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Tuscany]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Provinces of Italy|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1       = [[Province of Livorno|Livorno]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Comune|Communes]] of Elba
| country_admin_divisions_2       = [[Portoferraio]], [[Campo nell'Elba]], [[Capoliveri]], [[Marciana]], [[Marciana Marina]], [[Porto Azzurro]], [[Rio, Italy|Rio]]
| country_largest_city            = [[Portoferraio]]
| country_largest_city_population = 12,011
| population       = 31,592
| population_as_of = January 2019<ref name="Istat">{{cite web |title=Istat official population estimates |url=http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2019gen/index.html |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724140744/http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2019gen/index.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| density_km2      = 140
| ethnic_groups    =
}}
[[File:Elba2021OSM.png|thumb|Enlargeable, detailed map of Elba]]
'''Elba''' ({{langx|it|isola d'Elba}}, {{IPA|it|ˈiːzola ˈdelba|pron}}; {{langx|la|Ilva}}) is a [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] island in [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]], {{cvt|10|km}} from the coastal town of [[Piombino]] on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the [[Tuscan Archipelago]]. It is also part of the [[Arcipelago Toscano National Park]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Elba |url=http://www.islepark.it/index.php?option=com_inform&view=article&id=48&Itemid=35&lang=en |publisher=Parco nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano |access-date=15 January 2012 |date=16 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528085511/http://www.islepark.it/index.php?option=com_inform&view=article&id=48&Itemid=35&lang=en |archive-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> and the third largest [[List of islands of Italy|island in Italy]], after [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]]. It is located in the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] about {{cvt|50|km|-1}} east of the French island of [[Corsica]].

The island is part of the [[province of Livorno]] and is divided into seven municipalities, with a total population of about 30,000 inhabitants which increases considerably during the summer. The municipalities are [[Portoferraio]] (which is also the island's principal town), [[Campo nell'Elba]], [[Capoliveri]], [[Marciana]], [[Marciana Marina]], [[Porto Azzurro]], and [[Rio, Italy|Rio]].

It is famous for being the site of [[Napoleon]]'s first exile, from 1814 to 1815.

==Geography==
Elba is the largest remaining stretch of land from the ancient tract that once connected the Italian peninsula to Corsica.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dawson |first=Helen |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mediterranean_Voyages/wWWTDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA91&printsec=frontcover |title=Mediterranean Voyages: The Archaeology of Island Colonisation and Abandonment |date=July 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-42476-7 |language=en}}</ref> The northern coast faces the Ligurian Sea, the eastern coast the Piombino Channel, the southern coast the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Corsica Channel divides the western tip of the island from neighbouring Corsica.

===Geology===
The island itself is made up of slices of rocks which once formed part of the ancient [[Tethys Ocean|Tethyan]] seafloor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0040195198000602/1-s2.0-S0040195198000602-main.pdf?_tid=d4a63926-8aeb-11e4-a93e-00000aab0f26&acdnat=1419370801_078832222f5c9eb412283112afb4aff8 |title=The association of continental crust rocks with ophiolites in the Northern Apennines (Italy): implications for the continent-ocean transition in the Western Tethys |work=els-cdn.com}}</ref> These rocks have been through at least two [[Orogeny|orogenies]], the [[Alpine orogeny]] and the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennine orogeny]]. The second of these two events was associated with subduction of the [[Tethys Ocean|Tethyan]] oceanic crust underneath [[Italy]] and the obduction of parts of the ancient seafloor onto the continents. Later extension within the stretched inner part of the [[Apennine Mountains]] caused adiabatic melting and the intrusion of the [[Mount Capanne]] and the La Serra-Porto Azzuro granitoids. These igneous bodies brought with them [[skarn]] fluids which dissolved and replaced some of the carbonate units, precipitating [[iron]]-rich minerals in their place. One of the [[iron]]-rich minerals, [[ilvaite]], was first identified on the island and takes its name from the [[Latin]] word for Elba. More recently, high-angle faults formed within the tectonic pile, allowing for the migration of [[iron]]-rich fluids through the crust. The deposits left behind by these fluids formed the island's rich seams of [[iron ore]].

[[File:MteCapanne.JPG|thumb|right|Mount Capanne]]
The terrain is quite varied and is thus divided into several areas based on [[geomorphology]]. The mountainous and most recent part of the island can be found to the west, the centre of which is dominated by [[Mount Capanne]] (at a height of 1,018 metres, or 3,340 feet), also called the "roof of the Tuscan Archipelago". The mountain is home to many animal species including the [[mouflon]] and [[wild boar]], two species that flourish despite the continuous influx of tourists. The central part of the island is a mostly flat section with the width being reduced to just four kilometres ({{cvt|4|km|abbr=off|disp=output only}}). It is where the major centres can be found: Portoferraio, Campo nell'Elba. To the east is the oldest part of the island, formed over 3 million years ago.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://ofioliti.it/index.php/ofioliti/article/view/137/137 |title=Login |journal=Ofioliti |year=2001 |volume=26 |issue=2a |pages=97–150 |last1=Bortolotti |first1=Valerio |last2=Fazzuoli |first2=Milvio |last3=Pandeli |first3=Enrico |last4=Principi |first4=Gianfranco |last5=Babbini |first5=Amedeo |last6=Corti |first6=Simone}}</ref> In the hilly area, dominated by Monte Calamita, are the deposits of [[iron]] that made Elba famous.

===Hydrography===
Rivers rarely exceed {{cvt|3|km|0|abbr=off}} in length, and it is common for the shorter ones to dry up during the summer. The largest rivers, sorted by length, are:
*Fosso San Francesco {{cvt|6.5|km}};
*Fosso Barion, {{cvt|5.1|km}};
*Fosso Redinoce, {{cvt|2|km}}

Between Poggio and Marciana, at the foot of Mount Capanne, is a spring called Fonte Napoleone, known for its quality.

===Climate===
The climate of the island is predominantly Mediterranean, except for Mount Capanne, where winters tend to be moderately cold. Precipitation is concentrated in autumn and comprises a normal rainfall. The island lies in the [[rain shadow]] of the large and mountainous island of Corsica, so precipitation totals are somewhat reduced from the mainland (most of the island receives less than 750&nbsp;mm (30 inches) annually). Snowfall in winter is rare in the lowlands and melts quickly. The table below shows the average temperatures for the islands by month.
{{Weather box
|location=Monte Calamita, Elba Island (1991–2020)
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
| Jan high C  =9.9
| Feb high C  =10.2
| Mar high C  =12.7
| Apr high C  =15.5
| May high C  =19.7
| Jun high C  =24.0
| Jul high C  =27.4
| Aug high C  =27.8
| Sep high C  =23.5
| Oct high C  =18.8
| Nov high C  =14.2
| Dec high C  =10.9
| year high C =
| Jan mean C  =7.8
| Feb mean C  =7.7
| Mar mean C  =9.8
| Apr mean C  =12.5
| May mean C  =16.3
| Jun mean C  =20.4
| Jul mean C  =23.6
| Aug mean C  =24.0
| Sep mean C  =20.2
| Oct mean C  =16.3
| Nov mean C  =12.1
| Dec mean C  =8.8
| year mean C =
| Jan low C  =5.7
| Feb low C  =5.3
| Mar low C  =7.1
| Apr low C  =9.6
| May low C  =13.2
| Jun low C  =16.9
| Jul low C  =19.9
| Aug low C  =20.4
| Sep low C  =17.0
| Oct low C  =13.9
| Nov low C  =10.0
| Dec low C  =6.9
| year low C =
| precipitation colour  =  green
| Jan precipitation mm  =48.3
| Feb precipitation mm  =52.5
| Mar precipitation mm  =47.2
| Apr precipitation mm  =43.6
| May precipitation mm  =39.5
| Jun precipitation mm  =25.1
| Jul precipitation mm  =15.4
| Aug precipitation mm  =20.0
| Sep precipitation mm  =66.5
| Oct precipitation mm  =74.4
| Nov precipitation mm  =82.6
| Dec precipitation mm  =63.1
| year precipitation mm =
| unit precipitation days =  1.0 mm
| precip days colour      =  
| Jan precipitation days  =6.3
| Feb precipitation days  =6.3
| Mar precipitation days  =5.7
| Apr precipitation days  =5.7
| May precipitation days  =5.2
| Jun precipitation days  =2.9
| Jul precipitation days  =1.5
| Aug precipitation days  =1.7
| Sep precipitation days  =4.8
| Oct precipitation days  =6.2
| Nov precipitation days  =7.9
| Dec precipitation days  =7.8
| year precipitation days =
| Jan humidity    =77.5
| Feb humidity    =74.0
| Mar humidity    =72.8
| Apr humidity    =72.7
| May humidity    =72.8
| Jun humidity    =71.0
| Jul humidity    =68.8
| Aug humidity    =70.3
| Sep humidity    =74.1
| Oct humidity    =78.5
| Nov humidity    =80.0
| Dec humidity    =78.2
| year humidity   =

| Jan dew point C =4.1
| Feb dew point C =3.1
| Mar dew point C =4.9
| Apr dew point C =7.5
| May dew point C =11.2
| Jun dew point C =14.8
| Jul dew point C =16.9
| Aug dew point C =17.7
| Sep dew point C =15.1
| Oct dew point C =12.3
| Nov dew point C =8.8
| Dec dew point C =5.2

| source = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NCEI>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/MonteCalamita_16197.csv |title=WMO Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Monte Calamita-16197 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |access-date=29 February 2024 |publisher=[[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration]] |no-pp=y |type=Excel |format=CSV }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location=Elba
|collapsed=yes
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C=17.6
|Feb record high C=18.0
|Mar record high C=22.0
|Apr record high C=24.6
|May record high C=29.6
|Jun record high C=33.4
|Jul record high C=35.0
|Aug record high C=37.2
|Sep record high C=32.0
|Oct record high C=27.0
|Nov record high C=24.6
|Dec record high C=17.2
|year record high C=
|Jan high C=9.6
|Feb high C=10.0
|Mar high C=12.0
|Apr high C=14.2
|May high C=18.8
|Jun high C=22.7
|Jul high C=26.5
|Aug high C=26.7
|Sep high C=22.6
|Oct high C=18.0
|Nov high C=13.4
|Dec high C=10.5
|year high C=
|Jan mean C=7.4
|Feb mean C=7.5
|Mar mean C=9.2
|Apr mean C=11.4
|May mean C=15.6
|Jun mean C=19.3
|Jul mean C=22.7
|Aug mean C=23.1
|Sep mean C=19.5
|Oct mean C=15.4
|Nov mean C=11.2
|Dec mean C=8.5
|year mean C=
|Jan low C=5.3
|Feb low C=5.0
|Mar low C=6.3
|Apr low C=8.5
|May low C=12.3
|Jun low C=15.8
|Jul low C=19.0
|Aug low C=19.5
|Sep low C=16.4
|Oct low C=12.9
|Nov low C=9.0
|Dec low C=6.5
|year low C=
|Jan record low C=-7.4
|Feb record low C=-5.4
|Mar record low C=-5.4
|Apr record low C=1.2
|May record low C=3.4
|Jun record low C=5.0
|Jul record low C=12.2
|Aug record low C=11.6
|Sep record low C=7.6
|Oct record low C=2.0
|Nov record low C=-1.0
|Dec record low C=-5.4
|year record low C=
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=59.5
|Feb precipitation mm=75.6
|Mar precipitation mm=56.2
|Apr precipitation mm=57.8
|May precipitation mm=31.6
|Jun precipitation mm=26.8
|Jul precipitation mm=13.8
|Aug precipitation mm=41.5
|Sep precipitation mm=75.0
|Oct precipitation mm=101.6
|Nov precipitation mm=88.7
|Dec precipitation mm=50.5
|Jan humidity=77
|Feb humidity=76
|Mar humidity=75
|Apr humidity=76
|May humidity=76
|Jun humidity=73
|Jul humidity=68
|Aug humidity=72
|Sep humidity=76
|Oct humidity=80
|Nov humidity=81
|Dec humidity=79
|Jan precipitation days=6.7
|Feb precipitation days=6.2
|Mar precipitation days=6.9
|Apr precipitation days=7.0
|May precipitation days=5.0
|Jun precipitation days=3.5
|Jul precipitation days=1.6
|Aug precipitation days=2.4
|Sep precipitation days=5.0
|Oct precipitation days=7.9
|Nov precipitation days=7.3
|Dec precipitation days=5.8
|unit precipitation days=1.0 mm
|Jan sun=133.3
|Feb sun=118.7
|Mar sun=155.0
|Apr sun=183.0
|May sun=195.3
|Jun sun=237.0
|Jul sun=275.9
|Aug sun=257.3
|Sep sun=201.0
|Oct sun=151.9
|Nov sun=117.0
|Dec sun=114.7
|source 1=Servizio Meteorologico (temperature and precipitation data 1971–2000),<ref name=Servizio>{{cite web |url=http://clima.meteoam.it/AtlanteClim2/pdf/(197)Elba%20Monte%20Calamita.pdf |publisher=Servizio Meteorologico |title=Elba/M. Calamita |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> [[NOAA]](Extremes 1991-2020)<ref name=NCEI/>
|source 2=Servizio Meteorologico (relative humidity and sun data 1961–1990)<ref name=SM>{{cite web |url=http://clima.meteoam.it/viewClino.php?type=File&station=197&name_station=Elba |publisher=Servizio Meteorologico |title=Monte Calamita – Elba |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==History==
{{multiple image
|direction=vertical
|width=200
|footer=
|image1=Aufstieg-und-Niederfall-Napoleons.png
|alt1=
|caption1=The map of Elba in ''The Rise and Fall of Napoleon'', 1814 cartoon by [[Johann Michael Voltz]]
|image2=Napoleon on Elba.jpg
|alt2=
|caption2=Napoleon on Elba
|image3= Beaume - Napoléon Ier quittant l'île d'Elbe - 1836.jpg
|alt3=
|caption3=[[Napoleon Bonaparte]] leaving Elba on 26 February 1815
|image4=
|alt4=
|caption4=''Boney's Elb(ow)a chair'', satirical image about Napoleon at Elba, published exactly seven years before his death.
}}

===Early history===
The island was originally inhabited by [[Ligures]] [[Ilvates]] and was called '''Ilva''' (Ἰλούα). It was well known from very ancient times for its [[iron]] resources and valued mines. The [[Greeks]] also called it '''Aethalia''' (Αἰθαλία or Αἰθάλεια) and '''Aethale''' (Αἰθάλη) from "smoky" (αἰθάλη), after the fumes of the metal producing furnaces.<ref name="Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DI%3Aentry+group%3D4%3Aentry%3Dilva-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Ilva]</ref>

[[Apollonius of Rhodes]] mentions it in his epic poem ''[[Argonautica]]'', describing that the [[Argonauts]] rested here during their travels. He writes that signs of their visit were still visible in his day, including skin-coloured pebbles that they dried their hands on and large stones which they used at discus. [[Strabo]] (5.2.6) presents a slightly different account: "because the scrapings, which the Argonauts formed when they used their [[strigils]], became congealed, the pebbles on the shore remain variegated still to this day."<ref>{{cite book |author=Race, W. H. |title=Apollonius Rhodius: Argonautica |publisher=Loeb Classical Library |date=2008 |volume=II |pages=654–58, 381–3}} See note 95, p. 383 for Strabo quote.</ref> The port which is now called Porto Ferraio, was known in ancient times as the portus Argous (Ἀργῶος λιμήν), because it was believed that the Argonauts landed there on their return voyage.<ref name="Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography"/>

The island was then settled by the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscans]], who started mining iron at Elba, and later (after 480 BC) by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], who called the island Ilva.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elba Island, Italy |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Elba-island-Italy |website=www.britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

===Middle Ages and early modern===
In the early [[medieval period]], Elba was invaded by the Ostrogoths and the [[Lombards]], and later it became a possession of the [[Republic of Pisa]]. After the [[battle of Meloria]], the [[Republic of Genoa]] took possession of Elba, but it was regained by Pisa in 1292.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elbaworld.com/en/elba-island/p-332-elba-history.htmlHistory |title=History of Elba Island |website=elbaworld.com }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The island was retained for two centuries by the [[Appiani family]], Lords of [[Piombino]], when they sold Pisa to the [[Visconti of Milan|house of Visconti]] of Milan in 1399.

In 1544, the [[Barbary pirates]] from North Africa devastated Elba and the coasts of Tuscany.<ref>{{cite book |author=David, Robert C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5q9zcB3JS40C&pg=PR14 |title=Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast and Italy, 1500–1800 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2004 |isbn=1-4039-4551-9}}</ref> In 1546, part of the island was handed over to [[Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany]], who fortified Portoferraio and renamed it "Cosmopoli", while the rest of the island was returned to the Appiani in 1577. In 1596, [[Philip II of Spain]] captured Porto Longone and had two fortresses built there. This part of Elba came into the direct power of Spain through the [[State of the Presidi]], including [[Porto Longone]]. In 1736, the sovereignty of this part of Elba was claimed by the [[Kingdom of Naples]] but remained abandoned.<ref>Roberto Ferretti (a cura di), Aspetti e problemi di storia dello Stato dei Presìdi in Maremma, 1979;
Giuseppe Caciagli, Stato dei Presidi, Pontedera, Arnera Edizioni, 1992</ref>

===Late modern and contemporary===
The [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] landed on the island of Elba in 1796, after the occupation of [[Livorno]] by the [[First French Republic|French Republican]] troops, to protect the 4,000 French royalists who had found asylum in Portoferraio two years earlier. In 1801, the [[Peace of Luneville]] gave Elba to the [[Kingdom of Etruria]], and it was transferred to France in 1802 by the [[Peace of Amiens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05371c.htm |website=Catholic Encyclopedia |title=Elba}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elbaworld.com/en/elba-island/p-332-elba-history.html |title=History of Elba Island |website=Elbaworld.com}}</ref>

The French Emperor [[Napoleon]] was [[Principality of Elba|exiled to Elba]], after his forced abdication following the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]], and conveyed to the island on [[HMS Undaunted (1807)|HMS ''Undaunted'']] by Captain [[Thomas Ussher]]; he arrived at Portoferraio on 4 May 1814.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Thompson |first=J.&nbsp;M. |date=January 1950 |title=Napoleon's Journey to Elba in 1814 Part II. By Sea |journal=American Historical Review |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=301–320 |doi=10.2307/1843729 |jstor=1843729}}</ref> He was allowed to keep a personal guard of 400 men<ref>Alphonse de Lamartine, p. 206. ([[s:Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814)#ART.XVII|Article XVII]]) ''His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon can take with him, and keep for his guard, 400 men, volunteers, officers, subofficers, and soldiers.''</ref> and was nominally [[Principality of Elba|sovereign of Elba]], a step down from Emperor of the French. However, the nearby sea was patrolled by the [[French Navy|French]] and [[Royal Navy|British navies]] to ensure he could not escape. During the months that he stayed on the island, Napoleon carried out a series of economic and social reforms to improve the quality of life. After staying for almost ten months, he managed to escape back to France on 26 February 1815 with about 1,000 men.

At the [[Congress of Vienna]], Elba was given to the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]]. In 1860, it became part of the new unified [[unification of Italy|Kingdom of Italy]].

During the [[Second World War]], the island was liberated from German occupation by the French ''[[I Corps (France)#Elba 1944|1<sup>er</sup> Corps d'Armée]]'' supported by British forces including Royal Naval Commandos on 17 June 1944, in ''[[Invasion of Elba|Opération Brassard]]''. Faulty intelligence and strong defences made the battle more difficult than expected.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/85/a2943885.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330063803/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/85/a2943885.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2007 |title=Operation Brassard {{!}} The Invasion of Elba |first=Bill |last=McGrann |work=Peoples' War Stories |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.combinedops.com/Elba%20-%20Op%20Brassard.htm |title=Operation Brazzard {{!}} The invasion of Elba |website=www.combinedops.com|access-date=31 August 2020}}</ref>

In 1954, [[BOAC Flight 781]] crashed in the waters off the coast of Elba.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540110-1 |title=BOAC Flight 781, Database |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>

In recent decades, thanks to its rich cultural heritage, cuisine and nature, the island has become an important international tourist destination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bohlen |first1=Celestine |title=Italian Island of Elba Clings to Napoleon's Legacy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/world/europe/italian-island-of-elba-clings-to-napoleons-legacy.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/world/europe/italian-island-of-elba-clings-to-napoleons-legacy.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=14 July 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The island is connected to the mainland via the four ferry companies, [[Toremar]], [[Moby Lines]], [[Blunavy]] and [[Corsica Ferries|Sardinia Ferries]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corsica-ferries.it/traversate/traghetti.html |title=Traversate traghetti Sardegna, Corsica e Isola d'Elba |work=CorsicaFerries / SardiniaFerries |access-date=2015-07-18 |archive-date=2020-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024121206/https://www.corsica-ferries.it/traversate/traghetti.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> all offering routes between Piombino and Portoferraio, the capital located in the north, [[Cavo, Tuscany|Cavo]], [[Rio Marina]] and Porto Azzurro, on the east coast of the island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuscanylive.com/tuscany-holidays/getting-around/by-ferry/to-elba.html |title=Ferries to Elba |publisher=Tuscany Live |access-date=16 March 2010 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717113332/http://www.tuscanylive.com/tuscany-holidays/getting-around/by-ferry/to-elba.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traghetti-elbareservation.it/en.html |title=Ferries to the island of Elba |publisher=Ferry Elba Reservation |access-date=16 March 2010 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722055544/http://www.traghetti-elbareservation.it/en.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blunavytraghetti.com/home/?lang=en |title=Blunavy ticket reservation (EN) |publisher=Blunavy |access-date=19 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619212552/http://www.blunavytraghetti.com/home/?lang=en |archive-date=2011-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toremar.it |title=Toremar ticket reservation (IT) |publisher=Toremar |access-date=19 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobylines.com/ |title=Moby Lines ticket reservation (EN) |publisher=Moby Lines |access-date=19 June 2011}}</ref>

There is an airport on the island, [[Marina di Campo Airport]]. It is served by [[Silver Air (Czech Republic)|Silver Air]] with flights to the Italian mainland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elbaisland-airport.it/en/ |title=Home – Elba Island Airport |access-date=16 July 2016}}</ref>

===Cycling===
The island has a network of trails for road racers looking for more technical routes for their training, trails and dirt roads for bikers to have fun on, and accessible routes for families with children who need safe and relaxing routes. On the road from [[Rio nell'Elba]] going to Porto Azzurro is the "Fonte di Coppi". Towards the end of his career, [[Fausto Coppi]], the "campionissimo", came here to train on the roads of Elba. He still retained a celebrity status but was no longer at the peak of his career that ended with his death a few years later. The plaque on the fountain reads: "1960–2010, here the champion quenched his thirst, after fifty years on the run".

==Sport==
{{Infobox national football team |
| Name                = Elba
| Badge               = Bandiera Elba.svg
| Badge_size          = 180
| Nickname            = 
| Association         = Elba Island Football Association
| Confederation       = [[Confederation of Independent Football Associations|CONIFA]]
| Coach               = 
| Captain             = 
| Most caps           = 
| Top scorer          = 
| Home Stadium        = 
| FIFA Trigramme      = 

|First game = {{fb|Sicily}} 4–4 '''Elba''' {{flagicon image|Bandiera Elba.svg}} <br />([[Sicily]]; 11 September 2021)
|Largest win = {{flagicon image|Bandiera Elba.svg}} '''Elba''' 5–0 {{fb-rt|Raetia}}<br />([[Capoliveri]], Elba; 16 July 2022)
|Largest loss = {{flagicon image|Bandiera Elba.svg}} '''Elba''' 0–2 {{fb-rt|Sardinia}}<br />([[Capoliveri]], Elba; 11 September 2021)
}}

The Elba football team represents the island. They were approved as a [[Confederation of Independent Football Associations|ConIFA]] member at the Annual General Meeting 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Elba Island |url=https://www.conifa.org/en/members/elba/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=[[Confederation of Independent Football Associations|CONIFA]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210090106/https://www.conifa.org/en/members/elba/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is not affiliated with [[FIFA]] or [[UEFA]], and therefore cannot compete for the [[FIFA World Cup]] or in the [[UEFA European Championship]]. It is, however, affiliated to [[Confederation of Independent Football Associations|ConIFA]], and play in the [[ConIFA European Football Cup]].

Elba Island played their first game as a [[Confederation of Independent Football Associations|ConIFA]] member on 11 September 2021 against the Sicily Football Team scoring a 4–4 tie against them.<ref name=":0" />

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Elba Enfola.jpg|Enfola Beach
File:Marciana Marina - Hafen und Monte Capanne.jpg|[[Marciana Marina]]
File:Capoliveri Elbe Elba.JPG|[[Capoliveri]]
File:Fetovaia01.jpg|Fetovaia beach
File:Bandiera Elba.svg|[[Flag of Elba]]
File:Elba Drunken cake.jpg|Schiaccia briaca (drunken cake) from Elba and Aleatico (Elban wine) used in the recipe
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of islands of Italy]]
*[[Tuscan Archipelago]]
*''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'', 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Chandler |first=David G. |title=The Illustrated Napoleon |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratednapol0000chan |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Henry Holt & Co |year=1990 |isbn=0-8050-0442-4}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Carta |first1=Angelino |last2=Forbicioni |first2=Leonardo |last3=Frangini |first3=Giuliano |last4=Pierini |first4=Brunello |last5=Peruzzi |first5=Lorenzo |title=An updated inventory of the vascular flora of Elba island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy) |journal=Italian Botanist |volume=6 |year=2018 |pages=1–22 |issn=2531-4033 |doi=10.3897/italianbotanist.6.26568 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1311292 |doi-access=free|hdl=11568/925223 |hdl-access=free }}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commonscat}}

{{Tuscan Archipelago}}
{{Portalbar|Geography|Islands|Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Elba| ]]
[[Category:Arcipelago Toscano National Park]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Islands of Tuscany]]
[[Category:Islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea]]
[[Category:Prison islands]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Italy]]