Stay on a fish-shaped island inside Europe’s largest marine park – with turquoise waters and 150 beaches
WHILE European islands like Rhodes, Sicily, and Lanzarote are popular among Brits, there's one Italian island that's largely unknown to Brit tourists.
Set in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Elba is part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, which makes it the largest marine park in Europe.
The Tuscan Archipelago is a group of nine islands tucked off the coast of Tuscany.
Elba is the largest of the Tuscan Islands, and it's also the third largest island in Italy after Sardinia and Sicily.
The Italian island has been described as being "fish-shaped" by locals because of how it is shaped on maps.
The island was first inhabited by the Ivati Tribe, who named the island Ilva.
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It has since been occupied by the Etruscans and the Romans, but Elba's most famous resident is arguably Napoleon, who is said to have lived on the island during his exile in the 19th century.
According to a handful of there are more than 150 beaches on the island - although this number is disputed with some stating there are only 100 or 80 beaches on Elba.
One of the island's best beaches is Cavoli Beach, which has 300m of fine white sand.
Cavoli Beach is considered to be one of the "coolest beaches" on the island because it attracts younger holidaymakers who like to throw parties.
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Spiaggia di Sansone is one of the main beaches on the island, where holidaymakers can rent sunloungers and parasols.
Despite being one of the island's larger beaches, visitors have described it as being "overcrowded" and difficult to reach.
Meanwhile, Fetovaia Beach is home to golden sand and it has mountain views in the background.
Other popular beaches on the island include Chiessi Beach, Sant'Andrea Beach, and Laconella Beach, which is said to be one of the quieter beaches on Elba.
In addition to the island's numerous beaches, there are plenty of other things to do on the island too.
Outdoor activities like snorkeling and scuba diving are another popular pastime thanks to Elba's rich seabeds.
Meanwhile, hiking, mountain biking, golf, and sailing are also popular too.
Portoferraio is the island's capital, and it's home to plenty of historical landmarks like Forte Falcone - an old fort.
The Italian town is also home to several museums, including The Napoleonic Residences Museum.
Because the island is popular with Italian and German holidaymakers, there are plenty of different accommodation options to choose from, including hotels and villas.
Despite all of its beaches and attractions, the island is typically quieter than other European spots.
Over the years, the quiet island has been known to attract A-list holidaymakers like Johnny Depp.
The best time to visit the island is between May and September - although tourists are encouraged to avoid August because of the crowds.
Pisa Airport is a three-hour drive away from Elba, but it is the closest airport to the Tuscan island.
Ryanair, British Airways, and easyJet operate direct flights from London to Pisa for as little as £24 each way.
With a flight time of two hours and 5 minutes, holidaymakers will arrive in Pisa in less time than it takes to get to Athens in Greece.
There are up to 77 daily ferry crossings from Piombino to Elba, with journeys taking up to one hour.
Holidaymakers can also reach the island via a helicopter.
Other Italian islands are unknown to most Brit holidaymakers too, including the Tremiti Islands.
The Tremiti Islands are a group of five islands tucked away on Italy's Adriatic Coast.
Meanwhile, another tiny island in the UK could be turned into a holiday resort.
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The owner of Drake's Island, off the coast of Plymouth, has confirmed plans to build two hotels, a museum, and a well-being centre on the island.
And a small Scottish island which is just 1.5 miles wide has been voted the UK's top tourist 'hidden gem'.
