The island of Elba is famously the paradise to which Napoleon was exiled in his latter years and while we can’t expect to be sent there forever more, we can book a villa on the Tuscan Coast or a vacation rental in Portoferraio and get a taste of life in this stunning part of Tuscany. Browse our Tuscany villas and then plan a trip to Elba so you can discover all of its charms for yourself and, in particular, the incredible beaches that abound on the island! One especially gorgeous beach is Forno Beach, a picture-perfect little beauty that is made up of golden sand, rich blue waters, lush green pines on the hillsides all around, charming pastel houses directly overlooking the stretch of sand, fishing boats in a variety of shades bobbing in the water, and romantic craggy grey rocks framing the strand. Peaceful and picturesque, it is one of the most relaxing spots to enjoy a day at the beach while on Elba.
The smallest of the three beaches in the Biodola Gulf, Forno Beach is just 120m long and around 8m wide, though it does widen to 12m at its broadest point. The sandy shore is lovely and golden but it is a little more grainy than some sandy beaches as the sand here is mixed through with shingle. Sheltered from the north-west and eastern winds due to its position and boasting vibrantly blue water that remains pretty shallow until quite a distance from the shore, Forno Beach is notably a brilliant choice for families and those with small kids.
Located on the same stretch of the coastline as the resort of Biodola, Forno Beach is, however, somewhat quieter than the popular resort. However, if you are planning to be there during the height of the summer months and peak tourist season, you should still expect space to be in high demand and for it to be pretty busy. Either side of July and August, however, you’re likely to find that things are much calmer and more relaxed and you won’t have to compete for a spot in the same way.
Importantly, though most of the beach boasts free access, you do have the option to rent parasols and sunbeds and there are also paddle boat rentals as well. In addition to paddle boat excursions, this little gem of a beach is ideal for swimming in the calm waters and all of the rock formations and unique features of the bay make it a great place to snorkel.
Positioned about 6km from Portoferraio, the beach can be found by following the road to Procchio, taking a right turn about halfway along the road, and then following a road downhill for around 2km until you reach a crossroads with a signpost for the fraction of Forno. Once you get to the beach, you will discover its main downside and one of the primary reasons as to why it is less busy than some of the other beaches in the area: the parking. There really aren’t many parking spaces to be found so be ready to have to look around or potentially to have to get out and walk a bit of a distance.
However, if you manage to snag a parking spot and to come and spend time on this delightful little beach, you’ll quickly discover for yourself just why it is known as one of the best spots along this scenic coastline. Stunning, peaceful, well-equipped, and pretty safe, Forno Beach is the ideal place to relax by the sea for those who find a holiday rental on the Tuscan Coast or a vacation rental in Portoferraio and spend time exploring the stunning island of Elba.
Photo credits: Thhe / CC BY-SA 3.0