Istria beach in Capoliveri, on the Island of Elba

It isn't very easy to get to this beach. A grit road with quite a few potholes leaves from Straccoligno and takes you to the beautiful beach of Calanova. From here, or rather, from the bend just before the car park in Calanova, there is a barrier to prevent vehicles going past in the direction of the private land of the Costa dei Gabbiani. The first beach you come to after 150 metres past the barrier is Istria, also called Istia. You can also get there along a short path on the right hand side of Calanova beach. There is a beautiful, large pine grove at the back if you want to sit in the shade.

The beach is quite long, about 110 metres, but not very wide, at the most 5/7 metres, and is in a north-north east position. There is a beautiful promontory on the left with a small, public pine grove, and from the rocks on the right you can get to a tiny island about 200 metres away that acts as a frame of the bay.

The beach consists mainly of medium grain sand and small stones, with posidonia on some parts. You can hire sun umbrellas and/or sun beds, as well as small boats and pedalòs. There are no bars or restaurants, but you will find them in the nearby Calanova beach.

It gets the sun all morning, but part of it is in the shade in the late afternoon.

There is no car park, but you can leave your car at the side of the road or in the shaded car park under the pine trees near Calanova beach. Or, if you prefer, a sign at the start of the road says free parking for those who arrive on foot

This quiet beach is made even more beautiful by the tiny island infront of it, and all this more than makes up for the difficulty in getting there.

Photographs of Istria beach