What about a day in Portoferraio and discover his beauties and treasures? The Napoleonic vestiges or the fortresses where you can enjoy a stunning view on the Elba sea?
The answer is quite simple: take it easy and do both things!
How to disappear in Portoferraio town centre…
Do you have a full day available? Great! Be ready to discover Portoferraio then!
You can choose among several possibilities: a tour that recall a Renaissance flavour thanks to the Medicean Fortresses, enjoying the beautiful and sunny marina with its quays touched by a blue sea and framed by a colourful line of local places and boutique where you can stop and relax.
Would you like to retrace the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte in Portoferraio? Here the tour: go up to “Villa dei Mulini”, maybe stopping at the “Teatro dei Vigilanti” too, a former Napoleonic theatre.
Are you looking for a stunning view? Good! The “Forte Stella” and “Forte Falcone” give a postcard-like views.
And if you would like to put together both artistic beauties and a worldwide famous sea, Portoferraio benefits from two “town beaches”: “Le Viste” and “Le Ghiaie”. A blue sea, breeze and nature within walking distance from the town centre.
Enjoy your tour in Portoferraio!
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Forte Stella
The star shaped and red brick fort dominates the northern cliffs of the Gulf of Portoferraio.
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Villa dei Mulini
Built in 1724 by Gran Duke Gian Gastone de’ Medici, it was then re-adapted by Napoleon who explained his wishes to the architect Paolo Bargigli from Livorno, in particular about the creation of a Ball room, that was lacking in the initial construction.
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Le Viste
Its crystal-clear waters, especially when the southern wind blows, make you want to take a swim.
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Bastioni Medicei
The town’s defences were gradually reinforced from 1570 onwards, even under the direction of Bernardo Buontalenti, and were used to provide accommodation for the armed forces as well as important look-out posts.
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Forte Falcone
Designed by Giovan Battista Bellucci and then built under the direction of Giovanni Camerini, it is on Portoferraio’s highest hill and is accessed along a winding road that leads to the entrance, which stands behind an avant-corps dating from the 18th Century
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Teatro dei Vigilanti
Napoleon raised funds for its construction by offering 65 boxes for sale, causing great antagonism between Elba’s leading families, since they all wanted to buy the most expensive boxes to make their social importance clear to the population at large!
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