Spiaggia di Capo Bianco, White pebble beach in Portoferraio, Italy.
Spiaggia di Capo Bianco is a pebble beach on the northern coast of Elba island, near Portoferraio, sheltered by tall white limestone cliffs. The shore is made up of light-colored pebbles mixed with some coarser sand, forming a small natural cove open to the sea.
The area around Capo Bianco was used during Roman times, when Portoferraio was one of the main ports in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The cliffs and the sheltered position of the cove made it a natural refuge for fishermen and sailors over the centuries.
The name Capo Bianco comes from the white limestone cliffs that enclose the cove. The beach is a popular spot for snorkelling, since the shallow water near the shore lets swimmers see the rocky seabed. In summer it is also used for swimming and sunbathing.
The beach is reached by a footpath from the road that passes through low scrubland and has some uneven sections, so sturdy footwear is helpful. Once there, sun lounger and umbrella rentals are available on-site, and a restaurant sits on the clifftop above.
The white limestone cliffs above the beach contain fossil marine organisms that can be spotted directly in the rock surface if you look closely. These fossils show that the area was once fully submerged under the sea millions of years ago.
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