The Commune of Marciana Marina

Marciana Marina is the smallest municipality on the Island of Elba, just five square kilometers that develop around the seafront, adorned with a centuries-old row of tamari trees. Located at the foot of Mount Capanne, it is surrounded by a rich forest of pines, chestnuts, and oaks. With its picturesque neighborhoods with narrow granite streets and pastel-colored houses overlooking the sea, it is one of the most famous places on the Island of Elba.

Curiosity: This small village is also famous for being the location where the TV series [page id="969"]"I Delitti del BarLume" was filmed: Marciana Marina is indeed Pineta, the imaginary town on the Tuscan coastline between Pisa and Livorno where the stories created by the writer Marco Malvaldi take place.

In the past, the town was a renowned wine-producing area, with wine mostly exported to the ports of Liguria and Tuscany. Fishing focused mainly on tuna, and on the Bagno beach, one of the tuna traps of the Island of Elba was located.

Curiosity: Elba produced and exported a large quantity of salted tuna, sorra, and bottarga. The tuna's internal organs were consumed locally and were the base for the "buzzamaglia" (stew with peas). On June 24, 1958, the last tuna catch took place at Enfola: the catch was 22 tons. On June 25, a strong storm "swamped" the tuna trap, creating a large ball of nets and cables. This marked the end of tuna fishing on Elba.

Characteristic and worth seeing and photographing, the Borgo del Cotone represents the first historical settlement of Marciana Marina. The dialectal name "cote" probably derives from the Latin "Cos, Cotis", meaning large stone. This term refers to the cliffs that protect the small harbor, around which the first houses were built in the 16th century, when the Marina of Marciana was mainly used for maritime activities and fishing.

This ancient and romantic fishing village once consisted of simple houses, fishing warehouses, and cellars for producing and storing wine. Today, with its houses perched on the rocks, overlooking the sea, the colorful facades weathered by saltwater, and the boats resting on the quay, it retains the marks of a past deeply connected to the sea. Carefully maintained by its inhabitants, the Borgo del Cotone is one of the most evocative places in Marciana Marina.

On the opposite side of Cotone is the Torre degli Appiani. The ancient tower, built as a watchtower to defend against the attacks of the corsairs of Dragut, is a true symbol of the town.

Marciana Marina, while maintaining its ancient focus on agriculture and fishing, has significantly developed in the tourism sector. The quality of its restaurants, scattered throughout the town, is famous: from those overlooking the seafront to those found along the ancient streets and the town squares, considered real open-air living rooms.

Events: Traditionally, on August 12, Marciana Marina celebrates Saint Clare of Assisi (even though the church actually celebrates her on August 11) with religious events and one of the most spectacular pyromusical shows on the Island of Elba. To learn more about the event program, visit the website www.elbaeventi.it.