Fort San Giacomo in Porto Azzurro

Forte San Giacomo stands on top of a cliff on the promontory overlooking the bay and the town of Porto Azzurro.

It dates back to the 17th century when Porto Longone was under Spanish rule. It was built starting in 1603, under the direction of the viceroy of Naples, Giovanni Alfonso Pimentel de Herrera, with the aim of strengthening the defensive system and controlling maritime traffic.

The fortress was at the center of attacks by powers at war with Spain for two centuries, who immediately considered it a threat. The French repeatedly besieged both the town of Longone and the fortress, which was at the center of fierce battles during the War of Spanish Succession.

Curiosity: In 1814, with the landing of Napoleon on Elba, the fort lent some of its rooms for the Emperor's stay, making it his third residence after Villa dei Mulini and Villa di S. Martino.

By the late 1800s, Forte San Giacomo lost its defensive role and strategic importance: the local administration proposed and obtained its transformation into a penitentiary, which became a valuable labor resource, especially during those years when the inhabitants of Porto Longone were suffering from a severe economic crisis.

The prison soon became notorious for the terrible conditions in which the prisoners were kept, and it became known as one of the worst prisons in Italy, although the situation improved over time.

Origin of the name: It is called Forte San Giacomo because inside it is the 17th-century church dedicated to St. James the Greater (also not open to visitors), which is a beautiful example of Baroque art.
It is also known as Forte Longone, from the ancient name of the town of Porto Azzurro, which was Porto Longone.

Napoleon's Third Residence on Elba

Although considered a lesser residence compared to San Martino, Napoleon lived more in the house of Longone than in the Portoferraio country villa, where he only granted a few hours of visits, mostly to get away from Portoferraio.

The Emperor first visited the fortress of Longone on May 10, 1814, hosted by Rebuffat, a notable of the garrison, and during this visit, he began to consider the fort as a potential residence. During his second visit, on June 21, he stayed for nine days and ordered Rebuffat to quickly prepare his palace for future stays. He returned again from September 5 to 24.

Although the project was later scaled down, some letters written by Napoleon allowed us to understand that the Emperor's intentions were to make the Villa of Longone an imperial residence, filled with luxury and leisure, as well as a suitable place for representation, and not least, being inside a fort, it would be inaccessible to outsiders and prying eyes.