Napoleonic May in Portoferraio

In Portoferraio, where Napoleon was exiled for 300 days, a mass is held in the Misericordia Church to pray for the soul of the Emperor. People from Belgium wearing special clothes take part in the mass, and the mask he wore on his death bed as well as the cast of his hand that are normally kept in the tiny museum next to the Church are put on show.

After the mass the people go through the streets of Portoferraio as far as the villa where Napoleon lived during his exile. The town holds a celebration every year on the theme of Napoleon, awaiting the year 2015, the bicentenary of Napoleon's exile in Elba.

Information: Commune of Portoferraio - Tel. 0565 937111 - Fax 0565 916391