• Getting about

    Getting about

    Back
    • Rentals
    • Taxi services
    • Bus services
    • Park areas
  • Stays
  • Eat
  • Sea

    Sea

    Back
    • Beaches
    • Bathing establishments
    • Diving centers
    • Sailing
  • Guided excursions
  • Sports
  • Places to see
  • Special offers
  • Last minute offers
  • Ferries
Infoelba
  • Get to Elba
    • How to get there Getting to the Island of Elba
    • Ferries The shipping companies that connect the island
    • Getting about on the island Public transport and taxis
    • Hire Car, motorbike and boat hire/rental
  • Stay
    • Accommodation that is open all year round Booking a holiday farm centre, hotel or B&B all open in winter too
    • Hotels Hotels to meet all needs
    • Residences For an independent holiday
    • Bed & Breakfasts Always ready to discover the island
    • Apartments Feeling at home in Elba
    • Small villas and detached houses For an autonomous holiday
    • Villas Surrounded by luxury and relaxation
    • Farm holiday centres Nature and flavours everywhere
    • Campsites Socializing and having a good time surrounded by nature
    • Camper and caravan Parking, water tank and facility areas
    • Farm holiday campsites An open air holiday
    • Luxury accommodation For a dream vacation
    • Tourist agencies and realtors Let your holiday be organised for you
  • Eat
    • Restaurants and Pizzerias Typical sea, home or more refined cuisine
    • Food & Wine Experience Experiences of gastronomy and wine tasting
    • Local recipes The best dishes of the Elba cuisine
    • Wines Aleatico, Moscato and Ansonica: Elba wines
    • Herbs and typical products Honey, beer, oil, wild and aromatic plants
    • Typical dishes History and origins of Elba dishes
  • Useful information
    • ElbaOK Insurance The anti Covid-19 policy and much more
    • Useful phone numbers and addresses Public and emergency utilities
    • Weather Temperatures and weather forecast
    • Webcams A window always open on the Elbe
    • Apps for your smartphone Elba on your mobile
  • Visit Elba
    • Beaches and coasts A different beach each day
    • Places to see Museums, ancient monuments, breathtaking views
    • Tuscan Archipelago National Park Seven pearls rising up from the sea
    • Guided excursions Letting others take you round the island
    • Useful advice What to do if...
    • Maps of the Island of Elba The Island in the palm of your hand
    • I am... Elba just as it suits you
    • Recommended itineraries What can we go and see today?
  • Sports and free time
    • Water sports Scuba diving, going snorkelling, fishing, sailing
    • Land sports Cycling, trekking, free climbing!
    • Elba not to be missed The unmissable experiences to do on holiday
    • Outdoor sports Elba: A paradise for lovers of outdoor sports
    • Enjoyment and relaxation Night life, cinemas and much more
    • Courses and study trips Learn while you have fun
    • Shopping Scents, colors and flavors of Elba
    • Special events and exhibitions What shall we do this evening?
  • Discovering Elba
    • How many beaches are there in Elba? 126 beaches of 1000 colours
    • Paths and tracksin Elba 1000 paths to live the island to the full
    • Elba in winter Making the most of Elba all year round
    • Interesting facts A different Elba
    • History of Elba Historical notes concerning Elba and its origins
    • Geology of Elba Geological origins of the Island of Elba
    • Towns of Elba Administration of Elba and its eight Communes
    • Media Gallery Live and feel Elba through photographs
  • Webcams
Infoelba - Dove natura è vacanza
  • 0

The Volterraio Castle in Portoferraio

  • Looking for accommodation
  • Accommodation price and availability
  • Last minute booking
  • Offers
  • Ferry tickets
  • Real estate ads
  1. Island of Elba
  2. The Island of Elba
  3. Places to see
  4. Forts and fortresses
  5. Volterraio Castle

Even from the ferry coming in to Portoferraio you can clearly see the most ancient fortification on the Island of Elba

Where it is between Portoferraio and Rio nell'Elba
How to get there

Coming from Portoferraio, take the road for Porto Azzurro, after about 6 km turn left in the direction of Magazzini / Bagnaia, then about 1,5 km further on turn right for Rio nell'Elba (the road is narrow and windy so be very careful). Keep going until you see a large open space on your left where you can park your car; (about 50 metres further along) from here, there is a dirt track that goes up to the Volterraio Castle.

Guided tours Download the calendar 2019 of the guided tours at the Castello del Volterraio »
Ticket prices Full price 20 euros - reduced 10 euros for the over 65 and for residents from the Tuscan islands - reduced 5 euros residents over 65 - free for children up to the age of 12 and for resident students up to the age of 19. The price includes group transport and entrance fee with an official Park guide.
How to book a tour Compulsory booking. Tuscan Archipelago InfoPark Office +39 0565 908231 - info@parcoarcipelago.info

Clearly seen even from the ferry as you enter the port in Portoferraio, standing at a height of 394 metres on the mountain bearing the same name, the Volterraio Castle is the most ancient fortification on all the Island of Elba.

There are doubts as to the origins of its name: some say it comes from the Etruscan word vultur (vulture), others say it comes from the Volterra area, place of origin of the architect Vanni di Gherardo Rau who was in charge of the reconstruction work in the Xlll century.

The first part to be built was of Etruscan origin; it was made bigger in 1281 by the Pisans who used it solely as a military defence and in 1440 it was made stronger. It is one of the few fortresses in Elba never to have been raided by the Turkish pirates who ransacked Elba on more than one occasion. In the ten years from 1544 to 1554, many locals sought refuge and protection within the heavy walls of the Volterraio Castle; thanks to its strategic position, which means it can be seen from almost any part of the Island, it will always be a watchful eye that protects the whole island.

Although it was bought over by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in 1999, the castle lay in complete ruins for a long time.

In January 2016 the first steps in its restorationmake the fortress safe as well as give some of the architectural elements a new lease of life, like the main entrance, the path round the battlements, the tower with its footbridge and the chapel.

On 18th July 2017 the public was able to see completion of the second part of the restoration work. The old paths to get to it have been improved, with with wooden stepways and handrails to help you along. Thanks to the help and collaboration of the archaeological Superintendence even the strong>original floors have been brought back to life.

It is well worth the effort of walking up to the top of the hill where it stands, not only to see what remains of its magnificent walls, but also to admire the unique and breathtaking view of the gulf of Portoferraio.

The structure of the Castle

Volterraio Castle has a hexagonal shape. The oldest parts of the castle are the defense walls around it and the square shaped tower that was used as a watchtower. Access to the tower is across the wooden drawbridge and along the path round the battlements Thanks to a sort of signal system from the watchtower it was possible to communicate with the other towers in the surrounding area as well as with some along the coast of Tuscany.

Download the leaflet with all the information on the Volterraio Castle made up by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park »

When the restoration work was complete, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park brought out a video that covers all the stages of the restoration on Volterraio Fortress.


Castello del Volterraio

Something interesting

The Castle of Volterraio
  • 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

Infoelba non si assume alcuna responsabilità per l'uso di marchi e slogan usati dagli inserzionisti e per eventuali errate indicazioni.

Informa inoltre che i listini prezzi, orari, date o altro materiale informativo pubblicato su questo sito è suscettibile a variazioni.

:: Siete quindi invitati a chiedere conferma alle strutture interessate ::

Infoelba

©1999-2023 Infoelba s.r.l. Unipersonale - Viale Teseo Tesei, 12 - Centro Servizi Il Molino - 57037 Portoferraio (LI)

P. IVA e C.F. 01130150491 - capitale sociale €10.000,00 i.v. - registro imprese numero 01130150491 - REA: LI - 100635

infoelba® it is a registered trademark - all rights reserved - Accesso all'area riservata - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy