Le Ghiaie beach in Portoferraio, on the Island of Elba

Very near the old part of Portoferraio, Ghiaie beach is famous for the unique and breathtaking beauty of the sea bed and the white pebbles that the sea has made smooth; legend has it that the spots on the pebbles were brought about thanks to drops of sweat of the Argonauts.

If possible, It is better to go to this beach when the Scirocco wind is blowing because it enhances the crstal clear water and the reflection of the sea bed even more, making it seem more like a swimming pool.

The sea directly opposite the beach, as far as a mile out, including the Scoglietto, has been an environment protection area since 1971: rich in marine flora and fauna, it makes this one of the beautiful natural environments on the island and perfect for scuba diving. . Needless to say, fishing here is strictly forbidden.

A true snorkellers' paradise! Even children with just a mask and only a few metres from the shoreline will be able to see a wide variety of different fish.

The beach is about 340 metres long, plus 75 metres of cliffs and 18 metres at its widest point; there are mostly rocks at the far end on the right but they're not suitable for lying on or sunbathing.

A long avenue separates the beach from the public park, the perfect place if your children want to play or if you simply want to cool off a little when the sun is at its hottest.

There is no shortage of facilities here: numerous bars, restaurants, ice cream parlours as well as a car park at a fee. On the beach on the other hand: bathing establishment, boat and pedalo rental.

In 2016 new and much more powerful street lamps were put up along the road that leads to Le Ghiaie beach, so this means that locals and tourists can go for a midnight swim in complete safety.

How to get to Le Ghiaie beach

Very easy if you're coming from the port by car, not quite so easy if you're looking for a place to park. Turn left before you get to the old part of the town and just go down the avenue with trees on either side that takes you right to this beautiful beach.

You can also get there by the public bus service.

For safety reasons in the stretch of sea facing the rocks that divide Le Ghiaie beach, along with Cala dei Frati, new rules and regulations concerning swimming and sailing have been brought out. Read the ordinance n. 101/2011 of the Municipality of Portoferraio >

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