Galenzana beach in Marina di Campo on the Island of Elba

Galenzana is a charming beach of sand and small pebbles, very quiet and peaceful, located not far from Marina di Campo.

The beach lies on the western side of the Gulf of Campo nell’Elba and offers a view stretching from the Pisan tower all the way across the Fonza peninsula to the promontory of Capoliveri.

Curiosity: a unique feature on the entire island of Elba is that from this beach you never see the open sea, but always a strip of land. For this reason, Galenzana is sheltered from almost all winds, depending on their intensity; it is only slightly exposed to easterly winds, which are quite rare on Elba.

As it is not immediately accessible, the beach is rarely crowded, and those who make the effort to reach it can enjoy an exclusive and secluded spot, even in the height of summer.

In harmony with the surrounding environment and landscape, Galenzana beach is surrounded by tall Mediterranean scrub, pine woods, and holm oaks, with tamarisk trees reaching almost to the shoreline. It is a place of extraordinary charm: the crystal-clear water is a display of vibrant colours, with abundant posidonia seagrass and marine life that make it ideal for snorkelling.

Some parts of the beach have very shallow waters that gently slope down, making it perfect for children.

At the far right end of the beach there is a masonry pier for the docking of small boats, with an additional protective wall against east/southeast winds.

Curiosity: another interesting fact is that since the Etruscan period, when Elba was exploited for its iron deposits, this beach hosted furnaces where iron ore was smelted on site before being transported by sea. Although the Marina di Campo area was not rich in iron ore, it was chosen for the abundance of woodland, providing fuel for the furnaces. Since smelting required large amounts of firewood to reach the necessary temperatures, it was more practical to bring the ore to the woodlands, perform the reduction process there, and then transport the concentrated iron. Several parts of the beach still show traces of this activity, with many casting residue fragments that resemble smooth stones coloured like iron, in shades from dark brown to black.

Curiosity: during the summer of 2023, which marked a record number of sea turtle nests on Elba, Galenzana was the first beach where a turtle nest was discovered ›

How to get to Galenzana beach

The beach can only be reached by sea or on foot along a trail that is easily accessible to everyone. It starts from the centre of Marina di Campo, precisely from the stairs leading up from Piazza da Verrazzano.

Follow a couple of signs along the stairs, then continue on a marked path of about 1.5 km (10 to 15 minutes), which winds through the lush Mediterranean vegetation. At each junction, always keep to the left until reaching a small votive chapel, then descend to the beach still keeping left.