 Saturday, July 04, 2009 |
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PortoferraioThe Elba island's municipalitiesPortoferraio 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 1° 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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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. Santo Stefano is undoubtedly the the most facinating church on the island. Beaches: A est: Bagnaia (sabbia e ghiaia), Magazzini (ghiaia), Ottone (sabbia e ghiaia), Schiopparello (ghiaia). Ad ovest: Acquaviva (ghiaia), la Biodola (sabbia), Capo Bianco (ghiaia), Enfola (sabbia ghiaiosa), Forno (sabbia), le Ghiaie (ciottoli ovoidali), Padulella (ghiaia), Scaglieri (sabbia), Seccione (ghiaia), le Viste (sabbia e ghiaia), Viticcio (sabbia e ghiaia), Prunini (sabbia e ghiaia). Hamlets: Acquaviva, Bagnaia, Biodola, Carpani, Le Grotte, Magazzini, Montecristo (isola), Ottone, San Giovanni, Scaglieri, Viticcio. Area: 47,87 Kmq.; Other places of Historical and Cultural interest: Chiesa della Reverenda Misericordia, Pinacoteca Foresiana, Teatro dei Vigilanti. |
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