Historical places in Elba Island
Portoferraio - Capoliveri - Rio Marina - Marciana - Rio Elba
Marciana Marina - Campo Nell'Elba - Porto Azzurro
 PORTOFERRAIO
Portoferraio is the capital and largest port of the
island of Elba with a population of circa 11500. The
following localities are part of this district:
San Giovanni, Schiopparello, Magazzini, Carpani, Bagnaia,
San Martino, La Biodola e anche l'isola di Montecristo.
PLACES
OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The fortress "Falcone", positioned
on the highest part of the city, was without doubt
the most powerful medician fortress on Elba. This
was the official residence of Napoleon and his sister
Pauline. Villa San Martino, located
in the valley of San Martino, 5 kms from Portoferraio,
was Napoleon’s country residence; The Egyptian
Room and the Demidoff Gallery are worth a visit.
Important Napoleonic treasures are
on display at the Church of the Reverenda
Misericordia, among which the Emperor’s
bronze death mask, found at Sant’Elena by his
personal physician, Dr. Antonmarchi.
A funeral service is held in memory of the Emperor every year on 5 May.
Historical keepsakes and precious
church plate and vestments are preserved in the Church
of the SS Sacramento.
To the left of the entrance is a votive shrine dedicated to the men of Elba who
lost their lives in the 1915-18 war, executed on the design of Arch. Crott. The
three precious lunettes were painted by Elban artist Prof. Giuseppe Mazzei, a
pupil of Barabino.
The seigneur of Florence, Cosimo I de’ Medici,
commissioned the town’s defence works in 1548,
to be built on the ruins of the ancient Fabricia,
renamed Cosmopoli (the present-day Portoferraio).
The most important fortresses in the town are: Forte
Stella, Forte Falcone (both in the upper part), and
the Torre del Martello, at the entrance to the old
Port. There are numerous other forts and buttresses,
all of which are authentic masterpieces of military
architecture.
Villa delle Grotte
Also of interest are: Villa
delle Grotte,
which dates between the I century BC and the I century
AD; the Romanesque church of S. Stefano alle
Trane (XII century); the Fortezza d’Altura Etrusca
del Castiglione built in the pre-Roman period, and
the International Art Center of Italo Bolano, at
San Martino, the Foresiana picture gallery, the Foresiana
library and the Ottone Botanical Garden
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CAMPO
NELL'ELBA
 Marina
di Campo is the main town, with a population of 4400.
It is 18 km from Portoferraio. The main centres are:
San Piero in Campo (altitude: 227 m), Sant’Ilario
in Campo (altitude: 207 m.), La Pila, Cavoli, Seccheto,
Fetovaia. The island of Pianosa is administered by
Campo nell’Elba council.
PLACES OF HISTORICAL
AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Tower of Marina di Campo dates
back to the period of the Republic of Pisa; the Church
of S. Nicolò at S. Piero in Campo is thought
to be built on the ruins of a Roman church dedicated
to the god Glaucus; the Church of S. Giovanni at
Sant’Ilario in Campo is the largest primitive
church built by Christianity on Elba; the Tower
of S. Giovanni can be seen at S. Piero in Campo and
the Church of S. Francesco at Sant’Ilario
in Campo; columns dating back to Roman times can
be
found at Seccheto and Cavoli.
CAPOLIVERI
Situated at an altitude of 167 m with a population
of 2600, Capoliveri is 16.4 km from Portoferraio.
The main centres are: Lacona, Naregno, Lido, Pareti,
Morcone, Innamorata and Cala Grande.
PLACES
OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Madonna delle Grazie Sanctuary, built
to a Latin-cross plan with an oriental style cupola,
dates back to the XVI century; Forte Focardo is a
Spanish fort built in 1678, owned by the Italian
navy; the apse of the Chapel of S. Michele (old
cemetery) is all that remains of a mediaeval church,
with Pisan
architecture, where only a few ruins are still visible;
the Church of S. Gaetano and
the Church of the Madonna della Neve at Lacona.
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MARCIANA
Situated at an altitude of 375 m, Marciana
is 27 km from Portoferraio and has a population of
2200.
The main centres are Poggio (350 m), renowned for
the healing properties of its waters; Procchio (residential-tourist
area), Chiessi, S. Andrea (residential-tourist area),
Patresi. The island’s highest mountain, Mt.
Capanne (1019 m.), rises in this district.
Mt. Capanne: six routes are indicated on the trail-signs,
together with the times necessary to get from Marciana,
Poggio, Valle Nevera, Chiessi and Pomonte to the
top of the mountain, from where one can look out
over a magnificent panorama. The summit is easily
reached by cableway from Marciana. Mt. Perone, 630
m high, and the Belvedere Terrace can be reached
by car. The Madonna del Monte Sanctuary can be reached
on foot.
 PLACES
OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Church of S. Lorenzo, a Romanesque style national
monument destroyed in 1554 by the Turks, is on the
old road that runs from Marciana to Marciana Marina.
The Fortress, in the old part, was built during the
period of the Republic of Pisa; the inhabitants of
Marciana used to shelter inside its walls to defend
themselves from invaders. The Church of S. Nicolo
in Poggio, built on two ramparts of an ancient fortress,
is thought to date from the XIII century.
The Church of S. Cerbone is an old oratory on the
road that climbs up from Poggio to Mt. Capanne; it
was built by the Elbans in honour of the saint in
the place where he took refuge from Populonia, when
the town was attacked by the Longobards in 570. In
1814, Napoleon spent a short period in the company
of Countess Maria Walewska at the XVI century Madonna
del Monte Sanctuary, situated at an altitude of 627
m.. Also worthy of note are the Archaeological Museum
and the Historical and Cultural Archives.
MARCIANA
MARINA
This picturesque little seaside town, 19.8 km from
Portoferraio, has a population of 2000.
PLACES OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
INTEREST
The Watch-tower was built in the XII century as a
defence against pirate raids. The old part of the
town “Il Cotone”, which gets its name
from cote (meaning large stone), is a characteristic
little fishing village.
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PORTO
AZZURRO
 This
charming little seaside town is 14 km from Portoferraio
and has a population of 3000. The main centres are:
Barbarossa and Mola.
PLACES OF HISTORICAL
AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Madonna del Monserrato Sanctuary
was built in the XVII century by the Spanish governor,
Pons y
Léon.
The image of the Virgin preserved in
the Sanctuary is considered an exact copy of the
one in the Sanctuary of the same name in Spain.
Forte S. Giacomo, now a penal colony,
is a XVII century Spanish fortress: hand-made articles
crafted by the
prisoners are on sale to the public; worthy of note
is the Spanish Church of the Cuore Immacolato di
Maria with a marble statue of General Diego D’Alarçon,
dated 1727.
RIO
MARINA
A little seaside town, 26.6 km from Portoferraio,
with a population of 2400. The main centres are:
Cavo and Ortano.
The Octagonal Tower
PLACES OF HISTORICAL
AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Mineral Museum; the Church of S. Rocco and the Octagonal Tower of the Appiani,
built in 1534. The ILVA Iron Mines at Rio Marina,
the Cavo mines at
Capo Pero; the panoramic Porticciolo road, Jupiter’s
Tower, Mt. Grosso, the tiny islands of Palmaiola,
Topi and Cerboli.
RIO
ELBA
A small mediaeval town, situated at an altitude of
155 m; 25 km from Porterrario, population of 900.
Church of S. Caterina
PLACES OF HISTORICAL
AND CULTURAL INTEREST
The Volterraio Castle was built at the top of a steep
hill by Vanni di Gherardo Rau in the XI century during
Pisan rule. The whole district is extremely interesting
from an archaeological point of view since it is
at the centre of the ancient Etruscan mining area.
The parish Church of S. Giacomo and Quirico, the Church of S. Caterina, built in
the XVII century; the Oratory of S. Trinita and the “A. Ricci” Mineral
Museum.
Volterraio castle, which overlooks the splendid bay
of Portoferraio; the Church of S. Caterina on Mt.
Serra; Nisporto and Nisportino.
see also MUSEUMS
Portoferraio - Capoliveri - Rio Marina - Marciana - Rio Elba
Marciana Marina - Campo Nell'Elba - Porto Azzurro
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Friday, August 29, 2008
