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Vacancy quote Search accommodation Last minute booking Special offers Ferries to Elba Hire
Last minute booking 4 Special offers 7 Apartaments 3 Small villas and detached houses 1 Bed & breakfast 1 Hotels 1 Residences 1 Farm holiday centres 1 Campsites 1
  1. Island of Elba
  2. Discovering Elba
  3. Communes and towns
  4. Rio Marina
    • Cavo

The Commune of Rio Marina

Rio Marina: the iron capital

Rio Marina
TownsCavo
Area19 km²
Population2,198
Altitude10 m above sea level
ZIP Code57038
Places to seeMuseum of Minerals
NearbyMineral Park, Tower of Giove

Rio Marina was once considered the Capital of Iron of the Island of Elba. The mines and port were used for the excavation and transport of iron ore, which, even today, with its glimmer and classic reddish color, characterizes much of the town, from the facades of houses to the beaches, including the seabeds.

After the closure of the mines (the last one closed in 1981), the mining activity gave way to tourist development, transforming Rio Marina into a flourishing seaside resort and the buildings that once belonged to the mines into museum structures.

Inside the building that once housed the Mine's Directorate, the Museum of Elba Minerals and Mining Art and the historical archive of the mines are currently hosted. In the museum halls, the original mining environments are recreated, and an important collection of mineral and stone samples from the Island of Elba is preserved.

Of particular historical interest is the hexagonal tower of the port, built around the middle of the 16th century at the request of Jacopo V Appiani, while the original clock tower dates back to 1882, the founding year of the Maritime Municipality, and the oratory of San Rocco erected in 1570.

Open Sky Museum of Rio Marina

The Open Sky Museum offers an immersive path along the streets of the town, enriched by seven installations celebrating the mining history of the Island of Elba, “land of iron and sun”, and in particular of Rio Marina, once the heart of this industry.

These works were created using tools and mechanical components that tell the story of the hard work done in the mines by generations of miners. Starting from the former San Jacopo Workshops and proceeding along Via Magenta, home of the Mineral Park, you can admire winches, couplings, drippers, benders, and crushers. Each piece is accompanied by captions and includes a QR code. By scanning the QR code, you can access videos that illustrate the functions of each artifact, narrated by one of the last miners from Rio Marina, a direct witness to an era that ended more than forty years ago.

The aim of the museum is to keep the memory of this important past alive, not only for those who lived through that period but also to make the new generations aware of the roots and culture of their community.

Events: Every year in Rio Marina, two festivals are celebrated: on December 4th, the Patron Saint, Santa Barbara, is honored, and events are also organized for San Rocco di Montpellier on August 16th.
To discover events, visit the site www.elbaeventi.it.

Cavo

Cavo is a fully equipped beach resort, and the nearest place to the mainland.
Read more

Where to stay near Rio Marina

Are you looking for a place to stay for your holiday in Rio Marina? Visit this page to see all accommodation available near Rio Marina

Legend of points of interest

Forts and fortresses
Historical places
Museums
Panoramas/Views and scenic areas

Groups di points of interest: zoom in to see them (the icon may vary in colour and size).

7 places to visit that can be seen on the map
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Porto AzzurroCampo nell'ElbaCapoliveriMarcianaMarciana MarinaPortoferraioRio nell'Elba

Something interesting

Rio Marina: the iron capital

Further reading

Mineral Museum in Rio MarinaIsland of Elba Mineral ParkFortress of Giogo
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  • Farm campsites
  • Apartments and holiday homes
  • Villas and independent houses
  • Villas
  • Luxury accommodations
  • Travel info
  • Ferries
  • How to reach the island
  • Getting around the island
  • Car and scooter rental
  • Online scooter rental
  • Taxi and car hire
  • Elba Island
  • Beaches and coasts
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  • What to see
  • Tuscan Archipelago National Park
  • Recommended itineraries
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  • Outdoor sports
  • Wine & Food Experience
  • Guided tours
  • Boat trips
  • Elba by bike
  • Events and festivals
  • Services
  • Restaurants and pizzerias
  • Tourist and real estate agencies
  • Campers and caravans
  • Beach establishments
  • Boat rental
  • Bike and e-bike rental
  • Weather
  • Useful numbers

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