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Lying
only 10 km. from the mainland, Elba is the largest island in the
Tuscan Archipelago and having a surface area of 224 sq. km., it
is the third Italian island in size. Elba has become an internationally
famous tourist resort. Her climate is particularly mild. Her coastline,
which winds for 147 km., is incredibly varied. The grandeur of the
Mount Capanne group (1019 mt.) is magnificent. The average year
long temperature is 15.7°C: January's average is 9.3°C, while July's
is 24.3°C. The averages for the various seasons are: Winter 9.7°C,
Spring 13.9°C, Summer 22.7°C, Autumn 16.6°C. The average monthly
water temperatures from Spring to Autumn are the following: April
19°C, May 20.2°C, June 24.1°C, July 26.8°C, August 27.3°C, September
25.5°C, October 23.1°C.
A "man size" island, Elba has been able to snatch
up all the benefits from modern civilisation, its comforts and technology,
without however compromising her nature, landscape, sea and coast,
mountains and woods. She hasn't allowed her ancient villages to
be disfigured nor the remains of her ancient civilisation to be
destroyed. Elba is like a treasure chest rich in delightful surprises,
framed by crystal-clear waters which caress sandy beaches, secret
green bays and inlets, or steep cliffs. Inland environments range
from shady woods, to sweet cultivated fields, to barren lands where
aloe and cactus reign. And then you have Elba's towns: those on
the sea, which often maintain the ancient flavour of a fishermen's
shelter, and those chiselled out of the rock up high, which still
tell us about pirate raids of long ago.
You can hunt for mushrooms, berries, flowers or
chestnuts. You can observe the world of wild animals which here
find an ideal habitat. Or you can simply enjoy the fresh, clear
air and the beauty that nature so generously gave to this island.
Perhaps after a taste of the local cuisine which blends sea traditions
with those typical of Tuscany.
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