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| Where | Portoferraio – Loc. Le Trane |
|---|---|
| How to get there | To reach it, follow the provincial road that leads to Bagnaia until the intersection for Magazzini, where you must take the small road on the right, surrounded by fields and vineyards. The road ends with a short climb between olive trees leading to the small church. |
The Church of Santo Stefano in the locality of Le Trane (a name taken from the ancient municipality of Latrani) stands isolated on a hill in the locality of i Molini, offering a beautiful panorama of the Portoferraio bay and the Magazzini plain.
It dates back to the second half of the 12th century and is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first Christian to offer his life for the faith in Christ as a deacon of the Church of Jerusalem.
The sacred site, with horizontal rows of albarese limestone blocks, ranging in color from ivory white to light brown, is still well preserved. The architecture and typically Romanesque-Pisan style are also clearly visible.
The church consists of a single nave with a rectangular plan that ends with a semicircular apse and is built along the east-west longitudinal axis, while the bell tower with a sail, which was part of the original structure, has unfortunately been destroyed.
Regarding the facade, it features an unusual decoration compared to other Romanesque churches on the island, as it is formed by three blind arches with a full curve resting on pilasters, which are in turn topped by an order of pilasters with entablatures.
The uniqueness of the church is also represented by the external decorations in white marble (flowers, animal figures, heads), contrasting with the sobriety and simplicity of the interiors.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the building suffered numerous traumatic events, mostly from pirate and barbarian raids: in 1554, the invasion by Barbarossa was decisive for its ruin.
After a restoration by the faithful around the mid-1700s, following severe weather events, the roof and the entire structure were again damaged, and from then on began years of neglect and decay. Only in the last decades of the last century did the sacred place undergo a new restoration work that allowed for the preservation of the building and its reopening to the public.
Fun Fact: It is the only Romanesque church on the Island of Elba open for worship and religious services.
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