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The Linguella Tower in Portoferraio

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  1. Island of Elba
  2. The Island of Elba
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  4. Forts and fortresses
  5. Linguella Tower

The third fortress designed by Giovanni Camerini to fortify the town as Cosimo de' Medici wished in 1548

Thanks to is hexagonal shape, you will recognise the Martello Tower or Linguella Tower, a perfect example of military defence for the port, as soon as you enter the port of Portoferraio. A long, heavy chain went from the Linguella Tower as far as the Gallo Tower, acting as a military defence no one could get past. In the 17th century, on the Grand Duke Ferdinand ll's request, the ramparts next to it that looked onto the sea and the docks, were reinforced. The San Francesco rampart and the sentry box with the Lorraine cross on top were rebuilt after their destruction during the war.

Initially it was used for military reasons, then for storing salt, then for preserving tuna fish and storing the fishing equipment. In the 18th century the Grand Dukes of Lorraine had it made into a prison.

At one point during the war it was partially destroyed, but in 1977 complete restoration works gave it back its original splendour, and the remains of a Roman villa were discovered..

It was built right on the rocks, and the upper part of the building sticks out from the lower part, with strong brackets all round the terrace that was originally used as a watch tower.

Interesting facts: The Martello Tower is also called the Passanante Tower; Passanante was an anarchic from Lucania, and on November 17th 1878, holding only a small knife in his hand, he tried to kill Umberto l of Savoia, the King of Italy, who was on a visit to Naples: The attempt was a complete failure, and he was put in prison for ten years, tied to a chain that weighed 18 kilos, and locked in a cell that was only 1,40 metres high with no light at all and no latrine. Each time the sailors went past the tower they would hear his constant moaning and wailing, so they started calling it the Passanante Tower.

In 1933 Sandro Pertini was also imprisoned in the Linguella Tower, while waiting to be tried for having insulted a prison guard; this was however part of a judiciary process that had started the year before while, as a socialist lawyer he had been condemned and imprisoned in Pianosa because he had clearly declared his anti fascist views.

Torre della Linguella

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Roman villa in LinguellaLinguella Museum of Archaeology

Something interesting

The Martello Tower
  • Get to Elba
  • How to get there
  • Ferries
  • Getting about on the island
  • Hire
  • Stay
  • Accommodation that is open all year round
  • Hotels
  • Residences
  • Bed & Breakfasts
  • Apartments
  • Small villas and detached houses
  • Villas
  • Farm holiday centres
  • Campsites
  • Camper and caravan
  • Farm holiday campsites
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Tourist agencies and realtors
  • Eat
  • Restaurants and Pizzerias
  • Food & Wine Experience
  • Local recipes
  • Wines
  • Herbs and typical products
  • Typical dishes
  • Useful information
  • ElbaOK Insurance
  • Useful phone numbers and addresses
  • Weather
  • Webcams
  • Apps for your smartphone
  • Visit Elba
  • Beaches and coasts
  • Places to see
  • Tuscan Archipelago National Park
  • Guided excursions
  • Useful advice
  • Maps of the Island of Elba
  • I am...
  • Recommended itineraries
  • Sports and free time
  • Water sports
  • Land sports
  • Elba not to be missed
  • Outdoor sports
  • Enjoyment and relaxation
  • Courses and study trips
  • Shopping
  • Special events and exhibitions
  • Discovering Elba
  • How many beaches are there in Elba?
  • Paths and tracksin Elba
  • Elba in winter
  • Interesting facts
  • History of Elba
  • Geology of Elba
  • Towns of Elba
  • Media Gallery
  • Webcams

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