Nisporto beach in Rio, on the Island of Elba

This is a lovely beach, about 220 metres long and up to 20 metres wide in some parts, and consists of different coloured pebbles mixed with shingle and sand.

The beach is in the middle of a horse shoe shaped bay, with beautiful rocks on either side and thanks to this conformation it only gets winds from the north and north west. The sea bed on the left hand side of the beach is more stony, while in the centre the water is shallow till quite far out, so this makes the beach perfect for small children.

A perfect beach for those who want a relaxing and peaceful holiday far from the hustle and bustle.

There are bars and restaurants on the beach, as well as a sun umbrella and sun bed rental, and you can also hire pedalòs and small boats; there is also an aisle for mooring small boats.

On the left hand side of the beach, facing the sea, you will see the remains of an old furnace made from red bricks known as "The Dancer" that has now been declared by the "Soprintendenza" (Italian Superintendence Authority) as a piece of work of historical and artistic interest; it once belonged to Lucia Galli who was the prima ballerina in the Teatro della Scala in Milan at the start of the twentieth century. Inside the furnace, just like the others spread all over the island, both limesone and bricks were made then rowed to Portoferraio.

The legend of the "Prince" and the Dancer

Every 10th August on Nisporto beach the revival of a love story from the past, whose full title is the "Prince" and the Dancer from Nisporto. is held.

This lady, after having taken part in theatrical plays both in Italy and abroad, suddenly disappeared from the limelight and chose Nisporto for her home.

Here she started a real, agricultural firm that gave work to many people. There are stories of how her kindness and generosity once saved two Polish soldiers from being executed, or how she often gave parties and banquets to the many famous people who came to visit her

Some people say that one evening, in the years between 1920 and 1930, a long, red carpet appeared on the beach in Nisporto, and that in the distance a man wearing a uniform got off a boat and went to see the Dancer, then left never to return.

This is how the legend of the "Prince" and the Dancer from Nisporto was born, a tormented love story from the past whose most interesting moments are at the base of the historical revival.

How to get to Nisportino beach

You can get there either from Bagnaia or from Rio Elba .If you are coming from Bagnaia, follow the road from Rio Elba to Nisporto for 4,9 kilometres; although there are a lot of bends, the view is more than worth it: Portoferraio and the northern coast in the distance as far as the Enfola promontory overlooking the sea, as well as numerous valleys of Mediterranean scrub that go right down to the sea. The beach is on your left, about 150 metres past Nisporto.

If, on the other hand, you are coming from Rio Elba, take the road from Nisportino to Nisporto road for 6,4 kilometres.

There are numerous parking spaces along the side of the road that leads right to the beach.