The Pisan Fortress in Marciana

The Fortress is located at the highest point of the village, overlooking the town of Marciana at an altitude of 415 meters.

Built during the 12th century, during the Republic of Pisa, the Fortress was an important defensive stronghold where the locals sought shelter during enemy attacks, especially the frequent pirate raids at the time, or during occasional conflicts with the Genoese, Catalans, Neapolitans, and French.

With the decline of the Pisan power, the fortress changed hands and was reinforced by the Appiani family, lords of the Principality of Piombino, who, due to the security offered by the fortress and its location, chose Marciana as a place to represent their interests on the western side of the Island of Elba.

The structure, at least until the 18th century, underwent numerous restoration and strengthening works, including by the Marciana community itself.

Despite being urban, the Fortress was built outside Marciana, overlooking the village. This element greatly differentiates this defensive structure from those of other towns and raises questions that are difficult to answer.

It is possible that the fracture between the prince and the people, when the regime shifted from a lordship to a principality, led the princes to build a structure outside the village to control and dominate the subjects. While previously the lord derived their power from the people, from the 1500s, the investiture came from the emperor or the pope. Society, losing its democratic characteristic, became increasingly elitist and exclusive, and consequently, the relationship between the lord and the subjects changed entirely.

The rectangular floor plan visible today dates back to the 12th century but was modified in the 15th century with the addition of four bastions with arrowhead masonry.

The southeast bastion was originally intended to house the explosives and ammunition depot (santabarbara), while on the northern side of the courtyard, there was a water source that, thanks to an underground pipeline from the nearby Fosso della Giunca, guaranteed a constant water supply in case of siege.

Today, the visit allows you to retrace the walkway along the walls and admire a splendid panorama of the village and the surrounding area: the lush valley that slopes down to Marciana Marina and the Monte Capanne behind the Fortress.

Inside the inner courtyard, there is a large dolium (ancient storage jar) found during excavations of the Etruscan fortified village of Monte Castello (Procchio).

The large courtyard hosts shows, cultural events, and various other activities during the summer season.

The Fortress, inside the two front bastions at the entrance, houses the Museum of the Fortress, inaugurated in 2013. In the left bastion, reproductions of medieval and Renaissance cutting weapons are displayed, along with documents on falconry.

On the right, there are archaeological finds discovered within the fortress, such as fragments of majolica from Lucca, Montelupo, and Savona, along with historical information about Marciana and the fortress.

The exhibition concludes with a panel on maritime history and the naval fleet of the Republic of Pisa.

Texts written with the contribution of Vanagolli Gianfranco