The territory of Campo nell'Elba occupies the southernmost and flattest part of the Island of Elba and extends from the Gulf of Lacona to Pomonte. Here it is possible to switch in the span of a few kilometers from the lively coastal mundanity to a quieter and more reflective type of stay in the more inland villages, such as charming San Piero and Sant'Ilario. The territory of Campo nell'Elba also includes the Island of Pianosa.
The main center of this scattered municipality, made up of villages and small hamlets, is Marina di Campo, an ancient fishermen’s village who exploited the vast sandy bay as a landing place and that today, precisely because of its sandy shore, the largest on the island, is one of the most popular areas of the summer season.
A simple fishermen’s village that took on a certain prominence in the late 16th century thanks to its position that ensured a good view of the sea and, consequently, of possible enemies.
On the western tip of the bay, towering over the ancient village is the cylindrical tower of Pisan origin, the symbol of the village: 25 meters in height, with a peculiar external staircase and a terrace on top. Once it was no longer used for a military purpose, the tower was converted into a lighthouse. Today it is owned by the Navy.
The Campo nell'Elba area is one of the most popular and well-equipped coastal stretches on the Island of Elba. The beach at Marina di Campo, overlooking the Gulf of the same name, is the largest on the island. Its golden sand, gentle seabed and thick pine forest make it particularly suitable for families with children.
Among the many beautiful beaches in the territory of Campo nell'Elba, it is certainly worth mentioning the sandy ones of Fetovaia and Galenzana, the pebble beaches of Colle Palombaia and Fonza, and then Cavoli and Seccheto, where sand, rocks and gravel alternate.
Going up the hill you’ll encounter Sant'Ilario in Campo, one of the oldest and most typical villages on the whole island, located on a picturesque position from which one can enjoy the view of the Gulf of Marina di Campo on one side and the presence of the mountain on the other. The Romanesque church of Sant'Ilario and the Pieve di San Giovanni (Parish church of Saint John), the largest religious building from the Romanesque period still standing on the island, are worth visiting here.
The village of San Piero in Campo, which stands on a granite elevation of Mount Capanne, is equally impressive. In the heart of the village stands the beautiful Chiesa di San Niccolò (Church of San Niccolò), probably erected on the remains of a Roman temple.
Along the road from Sant'Ilario up to Mount Perone stand the Torre di San Giovanni (Tower of San Giovanni), a significant bulwark from the Pisan era, and the Santuario delle Farfalle dell’Isola d’Elba (Sanctuary of the Butterflies of the Island of Elba), a natural oasis that winds along a path from the picnic area of Mount Perone to the last slopes of Mount Capanne.
Connections to the Island of Pianosa, a small jewel with totally flat terrain and a maximum elevation of only 29 meters above sea level, depart from Marina di Campo! A penal colony and then a maximum-security prison from the mid-nineteenth century to 2011, today it is one of the most unspoiled places in the Mediterranean, partly thanks to its history.
Finally, the territory of Campo nell'Elba is home to La Pila Airport, which connects the Island of Elba with a number of Italian and European cities.
Throughout the territory of Campo nell'Elba you can taste the typical dishes and products of the island of Elba, starting with the schiaccia briaca (the cake par excellence of the Island of Elba), a legacy of the Barbary pirates, whose recipe (originally abstemious) has since been revisited and enriched with local ingredients, such as the passito Aleatico dell'Elba GCDO, a sweet red wine with ancient origins.
