The Island of Elba is the third largest Italian island after Sicily and Sardinia and is the largest in the Tuscan Archipelago. It has recently become part of the Tuscan Archipelago’s National Park together with the islands of Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri.
Elba has a coastline of 147 km: its main mountain (Monte Capanne) is 1019 metres high, accessed via pathways or by a panoramic cable car.
Elba is especially remembered for having been the home of Napoleon Bonaparte during his 1814 exile. The houses where he lived, one in Portoferraio and the other in San Martino, are some of the most famous tourist attractions of the entire island.
Already in acient times Elba’s destiny was always deternined by two factors: its strategic position and the richness of its mineral resources. Due to these characteristics, it was often the object of conquest for the various powers along the Mediterranean. For the Etruscans and the Romans Elba represented an inexhaustible source of riches and the iron from Elba contributed to the prospering of their civilazation.
During the Medieval period Elba was dominated by Pisa. The remains of some important and striking defensive structures testify to the importance of possessing the island. The AppIani Lordship followed, as did the attentions of Cosimo de Medici, who built “Cosmopoli” on top of the ruins of the Roman city of Fabricia – now the capital Portoferraio – and had it surrounded with the impressive walls that saved the inhabitans from many pirate raids. The Spaniads settled in Porto Azzurro and they too made sure to construct defenses on their territory – the imposing San Giacomo Fort still dominates the pleasant landscape.
In the more recent history, the period that made this island famous and placed it on the world map was the brief exile of Napoleon, who stayed here for 10 month prior to his 100 days adventure which was finished in Waterloo. Bonaparte left a significant mark of his short reign: Important reforms and buildings like his Townhouse Villa dei Mulini in Portoferraio and his impressing summerresidence San Martino – which are now museums and can be visited.
Eight picturesque little towns (Portoferraio, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Campo nell’Elba, Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro, Rio nel’Elba and Rio Marina) are scattered about a rugged land, hilly and mountainous for the most part, crowned by a three thousand foot peak called Monte Capanne.
Portoferraio is situated on a spur of rock and surrounded by the Medicean Fortress that overlooks the town. With its “natural” and principal port, it is singled out as the capitol of the island and seat of most offices and public services.
Marciana Marina is one of the most important towns of Elba Island. There is a small marina (Circolo della Vela Marciana Marina), two small beaches and an old Torre Medicea, built to protect the city in the past from the frequent pirate invasion.
The promenade going from the old part of the city (called Il Cotone) to the Torre Medicea has preserved the original architectonical and urbanistic features of the 18th century.
In acient times Elba Island destiny was always determined by its strategic position and the richness of its mining resources.
According to these characteristics, Elba Island has alternate various powers domainations along the Mediterranean.
Etruscans and Romans considered Elba as an inexhaustible source of richenes and the iron from Elba contributed to the prospering of their civilazation.
During the Medieval period Elba was dominated by Pisa.
The remains of some important and striking defensive structures testify the importance of possessing the island.
The Appiani Lordship followed, as did the attentions of Cosimo de Medici, who built “Cosmopoli” on top of the ruins of the Roman city of Fabricia, nowadays called Portoferraio, and had it surrounded with the impressive walls that saved the inhabitans from many pirate raids.
The Spaniards settled in Porto Azzurro and they too made sure to construct defenses on their territory, such as the imposing San Giacomo Fortress that still dominates the pleasant landscape.
In the more recent history, the period that made this island famous and placed it on the world map was the brief exile of Napoleon who stayed here for about 10 months prior to his 100 days adventure which finished in Waterloo.
Napoleon left a significant mark of his short reign and made important reforms and buildings like his Townhouse “Villa dei Mulini” in Portoferraio and his impressing summer residence “San Martino” which are both today a museum.
Recently the island become part of the Tuscan Archipelago’s National Park as well as the islands of Pianosa, Capraia, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri. From April to October, there are excursions in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park with environmental guides and specialised instructors, involving bird watching, the observation of birds in free flight, and all the other life forms and their natural habitats, in a full immersion into Mediterranean flora and fauna.
Portoferraio
Known to the Romans as Fabricia and later Ferraia (since it was a port for iron exports), this small harbour was acquired by Cosimo I de’Medici in the mid-16th century, when the fortifications took shape.
Portoferraio is situated on a spur of rock and surrounded by the Medicean Fortress that overlooks the town. The town center is crowded around the small marina drawn in a natural cove. With its “natural” and principal port, Portoferraio is singled out as the capitol of the island and seat of most offices and public services.
Main points of interest include, Forte Stella, Forte Falcone, Forte Inglese, Archeological museum and Napoleon’s house.
Portoferraio was founded by Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1548, with the name of Cosmopoli (“Cosimo’s City”), to balance the presence of the Spanish citadel in Porto Azzurro. It had three forts (Forte Stella, Forte Falcone and Forte Inglese)[1] and a massive line of walls, all still visible today. The city remained to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the 18th century, when, due to its strategic position, it was contended by France, England and Austria. In 1814 it was handed over to Napoleon Bonaparte, as the seat of his first exile.
Following the Treaty of Fontainebleau, French emperor Napoleon I was exiled to Elba after his forced abdication in 1814 and arrived at Portoferraio on May 3, 1814 to begin his exile there. He was allowed to keep a personal guard of six hundred men. Although he was nominally sovereign of Elba, the island was watched (more or less) by British naval patrols.
During his “299” day stay, he had to content himself with a 8000 hectare training camp where he built his residence, Villa Dei Mulini, today a national monument situated at the summit of Portoferraio in a panoramic position between the forts Stella e Falcone. From here, one can take in a breathtaking view that includes the northwest coast and the coast of Tuscany.
Villa S. Martino (with Museum Demidoff) was Napoleon’s country residence located at the foot of the mountain by the same name, and less than 6 km from the center of town. From the inside one can view Napoleon’s bedroom decorated with the golden bees and stars from the legion of honor, the Egyptian room adorned with frescoes by Pittor Ravelli that illustrates the enterprising undertakings of the young emperor.
In the 19th century, the city grew quickly, due to the construction of infrastructures and the exploitation of new iron mills in Rio Marina. Portoferraio became then main shipping port of the ore towards the mainland, whence the current name, meaning “Iron Port” in Italian.
Principal beaches are
- La Biodola
- Scaglieri
- Il Forno
- Sansone
- Enfola Il Viticcio
- L’acquaviva
- Seccione
- Capo Bianco
- La Paduella
- Cala dei Viticcio
- La Ghaiae
- Le Viste
- Il Gigolo
- San. Giovanni
- Schiopparello
- Magazzini
- Ottone
Marciana
Marciana is situated on the slopes of Mount Capanne on the west side of the Island of Elba at 375 meters above sea level. It is one of the most ancient settlements on the island, its foundations dating back to the year 35 BC.Places of historical and cultural interest are: the Pisan Fortress, the Church of San Lorenzo, the Church of San Cerbone and the Sanctuary of Madonna del Monte.