Portoferraio
Il Comune di Portoferraio all'Isola d'Elba
Portoferraio is the capital and largest port of the island of Elba with a population of 11500. With origins that can be classified as ancient, Portoferraio was known as far back as the ancient Greek period, being previously named Fabricia by the Romans.
After four centuries, Portoferraio maintains her renaissance charm.The walls surrounding the city where constructed in 500 by Cosimo I° de Medici, a Tuscan grand duke whom went on to re-baptise the new fortress city "Cosmopoli". Today these walls represent a high standard of engineering and an opera of extraordinary architectural beauty.
When arriving on the ferry,its
impossible to ignore the beauty of the dock.
Apon entrance to the dock the Torre di
Martello, a tower which is part of the Fortress of the Linguella, is immediately
visible.
The tower Passante is also a part of this
fortress that, during the period when the
fortress was used as a form of prison, housed
the man who attempted to assasinate King
Umberto I°, becoming the tower's
namesake.
Visiting the Linguella complex, guests will find an interesting archaeological museum displaying amphorae and finds dating to the Etruscan period.
Above the towns storic centre is situated "Forte Stella" (star fortress) which derived its name from the star-like formation of its walls. The fortress, which was designed by Camerini, houses one of Europe's oldest beacons, constructed in 1788 by the grand duke Leopoldo di Lorena.
Forte Stella
From here, besides admiring the panorama of the port below, one can enjoy a birds eye veiw of the "Villa dei Mulini", the winter residence of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Although Napoleon's exile on Elba was brief (only 10 months), the emperor left behind a considerable cultural and historical patrimony.
Besides the operas conserved in the Villa dei Mulini, numerous other precious treasures, left behind by Napoleon, can be veiwed in the villa of San Martino and the museum of Demidoff. Amongst these treasures are valuble art works, fine quality furniture, imperial ornaments and an extraordinary library of 1000 volumes originating from Fontainbleau. Napoleon, whilst on Elba, created an important theatre and many of the island's main roads.
Residenza Napoleonica di San Martino
The "Forte Falcone" positioned on the highest part of the city, was without doubt the most powerful medician fortress on Elba. In demonstation of it's defensive capabilities, the fortress Falcone resisted the numerous attacks of the saracens, unlike fortresses built to protect Capoliveri, Rio and Marciana, which were all devestated in the pirates numerous, bloody attacks.
Visiting the storic centre of Portoferraio, the heart or the antique "Cosmopoli", one will discover interesting monuments, sacred sights, narrow winding stairways that lead to panoramic piazzas, old houses with flourished balconies and locals only too willing to tell some curious tales of the life on Elba.
Darsena
Infront of the port of Portoferraio, at the headlands of Le Grotte, excavations have uncovered the remains of a Roman villa where visitors can admire parts of decorations and mosaics dating back to the Hadrian era.
Resti della Villa Romana (promontorio delle Grotte)
Not far from here, at Magazzini, is Santo Stefano alle Trane, a church constructed in the Roman-pisan era, particular for its unusual archtectural forms is undoubtedly the the most facinating church on the island.
Portoferraio Beaches: Est side: Bagnaia (sand and shingle), Magazzini (shingle), Ottone (sand and shingle), Schiopparello (shingle). West side: Acquaviva (shingle), la Biodola (sand), Capo Bianco (shingle), Enfola (shingle), Forno (sand), le Ghiaie (ciottoli ovoidali), Padulella (shingle), Scaglieri (sand), Seccione (shingle), le Viste (sand and shingle), Viticcio (sand and shingle), Prunini (sand and shingle).
Portoferraio Hamlets: Acquaviva, Bagnaia, Biodola, Carpani, Le Grotte, Magazzini, Montecristo (island), Ottone, San Giovanni, Scaglieri, Viticcio.
Area: 47,87 Kmq.;
Population: 11.500;
Altitude: m.0/516 a.s.l.
Other places of Historical and Cultural interest: Chiesa della Reverenda Misericordia, Pinacoteca Foresiana, Teatro dei Vigilanti.
CAP (ZIP Code): 57037; Area Code: 0565
