To the Island of Elba by car, motorbike or camper - directions from north and south

Piombino Marittima, on the Tyrrhenian coast between Livorno and Grosseto, is where you catch the ferry for the Island of Elba. You will have no difficulty in finding it regardless of where you leave from: just come off the SS1 dual carriageway at "Venturina/Piombino/Island of Elba" and follow the signs for Piombino Marittima.

Once you get to Piombino Marittima you can choose whether to leave your car in a car park with watchmen or drive across to the Island of Elba.

Coming from the north

Milan - Piombino Marittima

Take the"Parma / Bologna" A1 motorway, leave it at "La Spezia / Parma ovest" and head for "La Spezia" along the A15. Take the exit at "Genova / Livorno" and follow the A12 for Rosignano Marittima. Leave the motorway at Rosignano Marittima and follow the Via Aurelia SS1 dual carriageway heading for Grosseto, then come off the SS1 at "Venturina - Island of Elba" and follow the signs for Piombino Marittima /Embarkation.

How long it takes

• Milan-Piombino: 5 hrs - about 370 km

Turin/Genova - Piombino Marittima

Take the A21 motorway from Turin heading for Alessandria then take the exit A26 "Alessandria sud" heading for Genova. Keep going along the A10 heading for "Genova/Livorno", then take the exit A12 for "Genova Est/Livorno". Keep going till you get to Rosignano Marittimo, then exit and follow the SS1 - Via Aurelia for Grosseto, exit when you see the sign "Venturina - Island of Elba" and head for Piombino Marittima/Embarkation.

How long it takes

• Turin-Piombino: 4 hrs - about 400 km
• Genova -Piombino: 2hrs 30 mins - about 250km
• Livorno-Piombino: 1 hr - about 85 km

Venice/Bologna/Florence - Piombino Marittima

Coming from Venice take the A4 for Milan/Bologna, and once you've gone past Vigonza take the exit for the A13 Bologna/Padova. Keep going heading for Bologna then take the exit for the A14 for Milan/Florence/Bologna/Borgo Panigale, keep going towards Florence and go onto the A1. After about 80 km take the exit for the A11 Pisa Nord/Prato Est/Genova-Livorno, keep going until you reach Livorno then take the A12 for Livorno/Rosignano Marittimo. Go off the motorway here and take the SS1 - Via Aurelia for Grosseto, then leave it at the "Venturina - Island of Elba" sign and keep going till you reach Piombino Marittima/Embarkation.

How long it takes

• Venice-Piombino: 4 hrs - about 430 km
• Bologna-Piombino: 2 hrs 30 mins - about 270 km
• Florence-Piombino: 2 hrs - about 190 km

Coming from the south

Bari/Naples/Rome - Piombino Marittima

From Bari take the A14 motorway for Pescara, head for Naples then take the A16 until you reach the exit for the A13 Caserta/Rome. Take the A1 for Rome, then follow the signs for the A12 Civitavecchia, exit at Civitavecchia and take the SS1 for Grosseto Livorno. Exit at the "Venturina - Island of Elba" sign and head for Piombino Marittima/Embarkation.

How long it takes

• Bari-Piombino: 7 hrs - about 690 km
• Naples-Piombino: 5 hrs - about 470 km
• Rome-Piombino: 3 hrs - about 250 km