Restoration of the Palazzina dei Mulini and the Napoleonic Gardens

Restoration of Villa dei Mulini: the museum reopens in summer 2026

Between 2025 and 2026, the Palazzina dei Mulini, the official residence of Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile on the Island of Elba, underwent a major restoration project involving both the museum and the historic gardens. The works, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), have returned to the public one of the island’s most iconic Napoleonic sites, enhancing its preservation, accessibility, and historical value.

This project is the natural completion of the previous restoration completed in 2013, which had restored the interiors of the Palazzina to their original Napoleonic appearance. The new phase of works focused mainly on the outdoor spaces, expanding the visitor route and highlighting the relationship between the imperial residence, the Medici bastions, and the surrounding landscape.

The restoration of the historic gardens of the Palazzina dei Mulini

The restoration of the historic gardens was carried out following a rigorous philological study based on archival documents, 19th-century prints, and historical accounts, which made it possible to reconstruct the original appearance of the complex during Napoleon’s stay.

The design of the Italian-style garden, the terraces, historical paths, botanical areas, and the evocative panoramic views over the Portoferraio roadstead and the open sea have all been restored. Special attention was also given to the connection between the gardens and the Medici fortification system, re-establishing continuity between architecture, landscape, and historical heritage.

Visitors can once again stroll through over 5,000 square meters of gardens surrounding the Napoleonic residence, one of the most fascinating panoramic points on the entire Island of Elba.

A major PNRR investment

The entire project was funded by the Ministry of Culture through the PNRR, with an investment of nearly 2 million euros dedicated to restoring the historic gardens of the Napoleonic Residences on the Island of Elba.

In addition to the restoration work, the project was preceded by extensive historical, archival, and landscape research that made it possible to accurately reconstruct the evolution of the two Napoleonic residences and their green spaces. The works represent one of the most significant enhancement projects carried out in recent decades on the cultural heritage of the Island of Elba.

With the reopening of the Palazzina dei Mulini and its gardens, residents and visitors can now rediscover one of the most significant sites of Napoleon’s stay on Elba, in a journey that combines history, architecture, botany, and breathtaking views over the sea of Portoferraio.