Sant'Andrea beach in Marciana, on the Island of Elba

Following the provincial road that leads from the village of Marciana to Marina di Campo, from the high road you can overlook the beaches and coves below and enjoy breathtaking scenic views, losing yourself in the scents of the Mediterranean scrub. The islands of Capraia and the distant Corsica frame the landscape.

Curve after curve, descending towards the sea, you leave Elba behind and enter a reality of an island within an island: the renowned tourist destination of Sant'Andrea, with granite dominating the area, will leave you speechless.

The beach, although modest in size (about 150 meters long and no more than 10 meters deep), is charming and made of light granite sand, lapped by a turquoise sea.

Fun fact: The sweet beach of Sant’Andrea was once a place for sailing ships arriving from the mainland to load the wine produced in abundance on the terraces of the area. A reminder of this activity is still visible with the quay at the western edge of the beach.

The seabed here gently slopes in the first few meters before plunging steeply, making it very interesting for lovers of underwater activities, who can dive directly from the shore.

Directly on the beach, there are several well-equipped bars and restaurants.

To enjoy one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on the Island of Elba, you can head east or west of the beach, where large rocky areas are available for sunbathing and bathing.

To the right, facing the sea, a pleasant trail along the rocks leads to Cotoncello, a small and charming sandy beach.

To the west, you head towards Capo Sant'Andrea. Here, the smooth granite rocks, called by the Elbans Cote Piane, are perfect for sunbathers and easily accessible. From Cotoncello to Capo Sant'Andrea, the granite is particularly beautiful, dotted with thousands of white feldspar crystals. Between April and May, the fuchsia bloom of the prickly pears of the Ottentotti is a spectacle not to be missed.

Fun fact: In the summer of 2022, many small Caretta caretta turtles unexpectedly hatched »

How to reach Sant'Andrea beach

Sant'Andrea beach is reachable by car from Marciana or Marina di Campo, following the western ring road around Monte Capanne. From the provincial road, when you reach the Sant'Andrea junction (well signposted), you begin to descend towards the sea; be careful of the road, which is narrow and has many curves in some sections.

Near the beach, there is a fairly large parking lot, clearly signposted on the left before you reach the sea (about 100 meters away). There are around twenty free parking spots, and the rest is paid with a parking meter. The cost is:
€0.50/h from May 1 to May 31 and from September 16 to October 15
€1.00/h from June 1 to September 15

During the summer, you can also reach the beach via the Marebus service from the Municipality of Marciana, which descends from the provincial road towards La Zanca, Cotoncello, and Sant'Andrea.