View of Rio nell’Elba

The name derives from the Latin rivus, meaning river. In the 19th century, the creek that meandered through the narrow valley operated numerous watermills with its then still plentiful flowing water. It flows into the sea in Rio Marina.
Rio nell'Elba is located in the northwest of the eastern promontory of the island of Elba. The municipal area covered 17 km², which corresponds to a population density of 74 inhabitants/km². The adjacent municipalities were Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio and Rio Marina.

The main town of the former municipality lies on both sides of a mostly dry river valley, which runs in a NW-SE direction, sloping down to the SE. The oldest part is on the NE slope of the valley. It is characterized by narrow streets and steep stairs, typical of a mountain village. The central square is the Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) with the mighty parish church dedicated to the apostle James and the martyr Cyriacus.