The Municipality of Rio was created in 2018 from the merger of the municipalities of Rio nell'Elba and Rio Marina.
Rio nell'Elba: a town waiting to be discovered.
Rio nell'Elba is one of the oldest villages on the island and still preserves numerous historical remains. The town is located about 180 meters above sea level and is particularly famous for its iron mines dating back to the Etruscan era. Many minerals extracted from the village area are exhibited at the Civic Archaeological Museum of the Mining District of Rio nell'Elba.
Museum and places of interest
The museum itself is one of the main attractions in the village and is located in the historic center of the village. The minerals on display here come from various parts of the island of Elba, which has always been very geologically rich. In addition to the museum, in Rio nell'Elba you can visit the Church of Saints Giacomo and Quirico, a building dating back to the 11th century, although over the years it has suffered numerous destructions by pirates and subsequent reconstructions. Currently, the external structure features a typically Renaissance architecture, while the interior is The church is distinctly Baroque. Of particular interest are the paintings in the church, including the one by Giovanni, depicting the wedding of Saint Catherine in the city of Alessandria. Leaving the church, leaving it on the right, you can follow the road until you reach the "Church of the Pietà," dating back to the 16th century. The old wash houses, still present today, are another characteristic feature of the village and retain their original brass mouths. The Valley of the Mills, on the other hand, is a particularly evocative place where over 20 mills powered by the waters of the Canali once stood and where today stands the "Church of the Souls," inside which a mechanical nativity scene has been reconstructed, depicting the common life of the village in the past, closely linked to the activities of the local people. of the mine.
How to get to the beaches
Rio nell'Elba has several beaches, mostly gravel and sand mixed.
Nisporto and Nisportino are two convenient, well-equipped beaches that are easy to reach by car.
Bagnaia, on the other hand, is the largest beach in Rio nell'Elba. Here, you can take advantage of a large parking lot in addition to the numerous services offered by the beach resorts. Bagnaia has a mainly gravel beach. Among the activities available is boat or canoe rental to reach the many coves along the island's coast. This beach is undoubtedly the perfect destination for those looking to enjoy the sun and sea in complete relaxation without giving up the opportunity to pick up and go in search of coves and views waiting to be discovered. The sunset over Portoferraio is wonderful.
Rio Marina
Rio Marina has been a small hamlet of the municipality of Rio since January 1, 2018, with approximately 2,000 inhabitants. Like Capoliveri, Rio Marina also has a history closely tied to the minerals its soil is rich in. Strolling through its territory, it is not difficult to come across hematite, pyrite, or limonite stones. The peculiarity of its mines is that they were open-pit and are still clearly visible, like the one located right on the beach of Cala Seregola. After a series of events that marked the history of this important resource for the entire town, the mines closed permanently in 1981, giving way to tourism development, thus transforming Rio Marina into a thriving resort. seaside. The old Vigneria Bridge, one of the symbols of the town, from which cargo was loaded for transport to the mainland, collapsed on October 28, 2018, due to strong winds and storm surges.
Rio Marina: Which beach should you go to?
When speaking of the fantastic beaches of Rio Marina, we can't forget the Torre degli Appian beach. It's so called because it's located directly beneath the aforementioned tower, known as the clock tower. In fact, in ancient times, iron ore was mined here, which was extracted from the nearby mines. The seabed of this beach is... It is mainly composed of medium-fine gravel: all the pebbles are smoothed by the sea water. Light-colored sand is mixed with slightly darker sand. Near the beach, you can find a wide range of services and facilities, such as shops, restaurants, and bars. This way, all beach visitors always have everything they need within easy reach. Other important beaches, this time outside the center, are Topinetti, Cala Seregola, and Porticciolo.
