Porto Azzurro
Porto Azzurro is a town on the Island of Elba, in the province of Livorno, set on a wide bay of the Tyrrhenian Sea
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Porto Azzurro now
The story
The story of Porto Azzurro
Introduction and location
Porto Azzurro lies on the eastern coast of the Island of Elba, at the heart of the Tuscan archipelago, in the province of Livorno. The town clusters around a natural inlet that forms one of the island's safest and busiest harbours, a crossroads of fishing boats, pleasure craft and connections to the rest of the coast. The town centre, with its colourful façades and lanes sloping down to the sea, sits beside a rocky headland crowned by a large fortress, a landmark that makes Porto Azzurro's profile recognisable from afar, both from the sea and from the surrounding hills.
History and origins
The settlement was founded in the seventeenth century under Spanish rule, when a powerful fortress was built to defend the bay, at a time when the town was known as Porto Longone, a name it kept for centuries before adopting its current one between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Spanish presence left traces still visible today in the town's layout, its fortifications and a small Marian sanctuary commissioned by Iberian governors on the nearby heights. Over the twentieth century the fortress changed function several times, while the village grew around harbour activities, fishing and, gradually, tourism linked to the island's natural beauty.
Nature and landscape
The area around Porto Azzurro alternates stretches of rocky coastline with small sandy coves, framed by the Mediterranean scrub covering the hills behind. The sea, ranging in colour from emerald green to deep blue, is said to have inspired the town's name and remains the dominant feature of the landscape, together with the hilly profiles sloping down to the bay. Footpaths and scenic roads link the town to nearby coves, offering views over the whole gulf and other coastal towns of Elba, in a natural setting that remains well preserved despite the area's tourist vocation.
Things to do and see
The heart of any visit is the harbour promenade, lined with cafés, shops and moored boats, and a good starting point for boat trips along the Elba coastline. From below, visitors can admire the fortress on the headland, not open to the public inside but striking to look at, its square profile rising above the town. Just outside the centre, among olive groves, stands the small Marian sanctuary of Spanish origin, a popular walking destination and the site of an annual pilgrimage. Nearby, some of Elba's most loved beaches are easy to reach, perfect for a day by the sea after exploring the village.
Flavours and traditions
The cuisine of Porto Azzurro reflects Elba's dual seafaring and farming soul: dishes of fresh fish, seafood soups and pasta with shellfish sit alongside country recipes based on vegetables, pulses and local olive oil. The island's wines are also part of the picture, with white and red labels produced in terraced vineyards overlooking the sea, appreciated for centuries thanks to the port's trade links. Traditions tied to fishing and the sea remain alive in local festivals and in the everyday rhythm of the harbour, which stays the social and economic heart of the town.
Not to be missed
- The harbour promenade and the colourful old town
- The Spanish fortress on the headland, symbol of the town
- The Marian sanctuary of Spanish origin among the olive trees
- The sandy beaches around the gulf
- The wines and seafood dishes of Elba's tradition
To see
What to see in Porto Azzurro
Routes · Trovido Route
