"Elba" spent much of her career abroad. She participated in the blockade of Venezuela during the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903 and was present in East Asia during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904–1905. In February 1904, her crew witnessed the Battle of Chemulpo Bay between Japanese and Russian warships; after the battle ended in Russian defeat, "Elba" and British and French cruisers picked up survivors. She took part in the Italo-Turkish War in 1911–1912 but saw no action, being used primarily to blockade Turkish ports in the Red Sea. In 1914, "Elba" was converted into the first seaplane tender of the "Regia Marina", with equipment to handle three seaplanes. This service did not last long, however, as she was too small and too old. Decommissioned by 1916, the old warship was sold for scrap in January 1920 and broken up.