Marina di Campo

The village of Marina di Campo

The picturesque old town centre of Marina di Campo, with its watchtower of Pisan/Medicean epoch and its small port, from which the granite extracted from the massif of Mount Capanne used to be exported, is the setting to the splendid bay.

Marina di Campo is the historical location of Elban tourism: the spectacular bay has attracted tourists from all over the world since the 1950s, to the point of being called 'The little Viareggio'.

Marina di Campo is seat of the Municipality of Campo dell'Elba, founded in 1894, after it was separated from Marciana, of which it preserves the coat of arms in the municipality symbol. No town actually called this way exists. The most renowned towns, aside from Marina di Campo, are Fetovaia, Seccheto and Cavoli. The hilly hamlets of San Piero and San Ilario are very beautiful.

Marina di Campo

Marina di Campo

Marina di Campo

The area, suitable for cultivation, and the nearby pit of granite have turned this location, especially the hills of San Piero and Sant'Ilario, one of the most popular since Medieval times.

Its name indicates that there is a large flat area which ends in the Gulf of Campo with a beautiful beach. This shape is precisely what used to facilitate pirate landings.

Marina di Campo has many restaurants, where it is possible to try the typical cuisine of the island, made up especially of fish dishes and berries. There are also many pizza and ice cream places in the old town centre. For those looking for some night life there are several clubs, filled mostly with young people, such as the 'Tennis', the 'Tinello' and the 'Pianobar da Giannino'. All of these night clubs are situated outside the residential area, about 3 km away from Marina di Campo.

Marina di Campo

Marina di Campo

Marina di Campo

The touristic sites are many and include the Tower of Marina di Campo, built in the Medicean period, and the Church of Saint Nicolò at San Piero, which was probably built on the ruins of a temple dedicated to the god Glaucus, in Roman times. Striking is also the Church of San Giovanni at San Ilario, which is probably the largest primitive temple built on the island of Elba since Christian times.
Also noteworthy are the Tower of San Giovanni and the Church of San Francesco, on the road for Mount Perone and the Roman columns at Seccheto.

Pianosa

Pianosa

Pianosa

It is impossible to forget the Island of Pianosa, south-west from Marina di Campo, which, after the recent closure of the prison, is now open only for organized tours.
Because it has been closed for so long, the landscape and the beach, have been preserved uncontaminated. During the summer, daily guided excursions are organized on the island, part on foot and part by bus, or on mountain bike and kayak.
It is really worthwhile visiting the island to admire the Roman port, the small village, Agrippa's villa and the Roman catacombs, the caves which were inhabited in prehistoric times, the ancient fountain and the beautiful beaches with crystalline water. At the end of the excursion it is possible to swim in the Cove of Giovanna.

In Marina di Campo is the Aquarium of Elba, one of the largest in Italy for the variety of Mediterranean species it contains. The aquarium is 2 km away from our residence.

Market day: wednesday.