The isle of Elba is the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago, the insular arch formed by seven islands and some smaller rocks off the Tuscan coast.  Elba has  an area of 223,5 square kilometers and is the third biggest Italian island. Although a small island in comparison with the much bigger Sicily and Sardinia, however Elba is a great island, for its rich natural characteristics, landscape, history and culture.  With a length of 27 km from East to West and a width of 18 km from North to South, its irregular shape vaguely  resembles a strange fish with a wide eastern fin. Many bays, gulfs, coves, peninsulas are along its coastal perimeter of 147 km.

A new publication about Elba’s shore has counted more than 150 beaches, some up to 1,5 km long, some just thirty-forty metres, along the coast. Speaking about geology and orography we can say that Elba is also more varied with a large variety of different rocks, forming a hilly and mountainous landscape that culminates with Cima Del Monte (516 m above sea level) on the East side, with Monte Orello  (377 m above sea level) in the centre, and with Monte Capanne (1019 m above sea level), the top of the granite range, on the West side. There is a variety of natural life which corresponds with this landscape diversity. 

There are many different habitats created by the diversity of climate, exposition, height, humidity, where different forms of life flourish. From the botanic point of view, scientists have counted 1209 plants, among those some are spontaneous, some  are naturalized, some are precious endemic species, that put in evidence insularity as a natural laboratory of biodiversity. Speaking about fauna, we haven’t big mammals, apart from wild boars and moufflons, recently imported by man to the island, but we have to say that Elba is rich with some “smaller” animals that deserve attention and protection.

There are many birds, about eighty nest-building species, and many  more migratory birds.  Considering sealife, too, we have to say that Elba and the other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago are a real paradise for people fond of nature and naturalistic observation. We must remember that since 1996 the Isle of Elba and the other islands in front of Tuscan coast have been included in the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago.