Rio nell'Elba

Rio Elba is one of the islands oldest villages. Peaked on a hill top that rises to 180 meters (a.s.l.) this town, like all others along the eastern side of the coast, belongs to a mining tradition lost with the passing of time.

Of interest, an old wash house with the original brass fittings that date back to the 1500's. A wide variety of minerals is on display at the local “Alfeo Ricci” Museum of Elban Minerals.
The Museum, in the historical centre of Rio nell’Elba, exhibits over 700 different minerals from various parts of the island. From a geological point of view, Elba is divided into three sections.

The western section, with the Monte Capanne massif, consists mainly of granite, tourmaline, beryl, serpentine and porphyry. The central area consists of diabase and serpentine in the east and quartz porphyry, alberese and granite in the west.

The composition of the eastern section is more complex: the southern part with Monte Calamita and the coastal strip between Porto Azzurro and Rio Marina is made up of Paleozoic mica-schist, feldspar, quartz, tourmaline, marble, dolomite; in the Capoliveri area, porphyry, and calcareous masses; the northern area abounds with iron minerals like oligist, limonite, and magnetite. There are also mica-slate and carbonaceous schists, Permian pudding stone and sandstone, Mesozoic calcareous rock. The island’s last iron mine was closed in October 1981.

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l'Eremo di Santa Caterina

Other places of cultural historical interest are Volterraio Castle and the parish church of S. Giacomo, built in the XI century, repeatedly destroyed by pirates and rebuilt. The present-day exterior dates from the Renaissance, while the interior is distinctly Baroque, like that of Quirico, the oratory of S. Caterina and the church of the Santissima Trinità.

This little XVI century sanctuary, with adjoining hermitage, is on the road to Nisporto, near Grassera, a mediaeval village destroyed by Turkish pirates in 1500. On Easter Monday, the day when the saint’s apparition is celebrated, it is the custom to eat dried figs in sign of devotion.

i Lavatoi

Also worthy of a visit is the Valley of the Mills where 22 mills once operated, feeding off the springs of the canals and the Monastery of Santa Caterina, today considered a cultural place of international interest. Of particular charm and mystery is the castell of Monte Giove and the fortress of Volterraio which was the only fortress capable of withstanding the once numerous pirate attacks.

Built in 11th century, the harbor of Portoferraio along with unique and romantic views of the sunset dominate the panorama that can be enjoyed from her walls.

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Beaches: Nisporto (sabbia); Nisportino, Bagnaia (sabbia e ghiaia); Le Secche e I Mangani (ghiaia).

Hamlets: Bagnaia, Nisporto, Nisportino.
Area: 16 Kmq.
Population: 900;
Altitude: m. 0/428 s.l.m.