Ferry from Pianosa to Rio Marina

Pianosa Guide

Pianosa is a small island that forms part of Italy's Tuscan Archipelago and is 13 km to the south west of Elba, the island made famous by Napoleon. The island has a land mass of around 10 sq. km and at its highest point it is only 22 m above sea level. Forming part of the Archipelago Toscano National Park, it is a Marine Protected Area which forbids all forms of fishing, diving or anchoring of boats without first obtaining special permission. The island is unlike some of the other islands in the region as it does not have many shops or many tourist attractions. However, visitors will find a beautiful, peaceful island, full of charm which seems to entice visitors back again and again.

The only way to visit the island is to contact a special guided tour operator and the maximum number of visitors is 400 people per day. It is not possible to visit the island on your own as special permits are required. There are two boats that take tourists to the island: one leaves from Piombino and the other from Elba Island.

Rio Marina Guide

Rio Marina is located in the eastern part of the Italian island of Elba, inside a small inlet that is surrounded by hills which are characterised by a red earth which is due to iron oxide mining that took place in the past. The extraction of iron oxide took place in the region dating back to Etruscan times and together with fishing was the main activity of the village's residents until recently. Today, the village is a tourist resort that has many of the amenities and facilities tourists would expect. A popular attraction in the village is the Church of San Rocco which is an embattled tower in the port that has an octagonal base and was commissioned in 1534 by Giacomo V Appiano as a defensive lookout. The island's Mineral Park is another popular attraction and is where a variety of minerals that can be found on different parts of the island can be seen. There are around 1,000 different minerals to see and it is also possible to visit a mine.

From the port there are connections with the mainland, as an alternative to Portoferraio.