Elba is an island that is small but full of history. Home to Napoleon for much of his life, Elba is one of the greatest small islands to be found anywhere. While it is true that Napoleon only resided on the island for less than nine months, he still called this area his home and maintained many fine homes on the island and was a big influence on the surrounding population. Many of the homes that were owned by the military leader are on display and still standing proud. Napoleon was known for building homes that were before their time. Iron mines were the main source of income for Elba which is the exact reason why Napoleon was so interested in the area. He needed the iron for his army and would take all that could be mined while he was around. This caused the area to thrive and lasted for centuries.

Water Sports
Sailing is one of the main water sports to be found on the island of Elba. Many of the finest watercraft can be found here and the yearly race of the sailboats draws a crowd that is unequaled for the most part. You can also see some of the natives as they hand craft the sail boats to be sold to the tourists which is amazing to see. Swimming and fishing are very popular as well. The beaches are well known for being a wonderful place to take an afternoon dip. Most of the beaches are life guard protected and the water is warm and inviting. Diving and Charter boats make up the bulk of water sports in Elba. Diving is very important as several ships have sunk around the island that were rumored to carry gold from one of the many treks that Napoleon made to the island with his Armada.

Island Diversity
The largest part of Elba is French which is also the national language. However, over the centuries, many different civilizations have laid claim to this small island. One can find a thriving population of Greeks, Romans, and Pisans all over the area. There are many languages spoken but French is understood for the most part as that is the area where the bulk of the tourists will come in from.

Activities
The thriving night life is the main activity for Elba and the tourists that arrive every year. The festivals and parties that spring up as soon as the sun goes down are massive and draw people from all over the island. One can also take a glass bottom boat tour of the Sugar Reef to see some of the impressive underwater wildlife that calls the Reef home.