If you’re planning to visit Elba Island during your next holiday to Tuscany then you might be interested to hear about its interesting ties with the famous military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte! Elba is the largest of the Tuscan islands and is extremely busy in July and August with holidaymakers.
Some visitors that want to come here for a few days prefer to come during the quieter months of April to May or September to October when they can relax in a more peaceful atmosphere and thrill in all the land and water activities available as well as lots of tourist attractions to visit!
There’s a huge selection of holiday villas on the Elba island.
Elba Island has been inhabited since the Iron Age by Ligurian tribes, followed by the Etruscans and then the Greeks. Pirates were regular visitors to Elba and many stories of their legacy remain behind in thrilling folklore.
Some visitors that want to come here for a few days prefer to come during the quieter months of April to May or September to October when they can relax in a more peaceful atmosphere and thrill in all the land and water activities available as well as lots of tourist attractions to visit!
There’s a huge selection of holiday villas on the Elba island.
Elba Island has been inhabited since the Iron Age by Ligurian tribes, followed by the Etruscans and then the Greeks. Pirates were regular visitors to Elba and many stories of their legacy remain behind in thrilling folklore.
But most interesting of all was the banishment of the great French military mastermind, Napoleon to the island where he was ordered to remain for the rest of his days by his enemies.
But Napoleon made the most of his exile and quickly got to work in revamping the island’s way of life. He ordered the redesign and implementation of better transport, educational, political and agricultural infrastructures as well as promoting the extraction and sales of the numerous iron ore mines there.
The people adored him for his hard work and turning Elba into a prosperous place. To this day, a mass is said in his honour in May at Chiesa della Misericordia.
But Napoleon made the most of his exile and quickly got to work in revamping the island’s way of life. He ordered the redesign and implementation of better transport, educational, political and agricultural infrastructures as well as promoting the extraction and sales of the numerous iron ore mines there.
The people adored him for his hard work and turning Elba into a prosperous place. To this day, a mass is said in his honour in May at Chiesa della Misericordia.
But only nine months after his arrival, he heard news that his enemies resented his happiness on Elba and planned to have him moved to the remote island of St. Helena in the Mediterranean. In a panic, he smuggled himself on a ship to Paris where he once again attempted to gain power over Europe for the French.
He was defeated at last in Waterloo and was sent to the island of St. Helena where he died in 1821. Despite the many enemies that Napoleon accumulated over his career, he was revered by the people of Elba Island, who mourned the loss of such a powerful leader.
Tourists enjoy admiring the many public works and places of interest that were constructed during Napoleon’s short reign on Elba. While you're here, why not take a few days to explore the entire seven islands of the Tuscan archipelago!
He was defeated at last in Waterloo and was sent to the island of St. Helena where he died in 1821. Despite the many enemies that Napoleon accumulated over his career, he was revered by the people of Elba Island, who mourned the loss of such a powerful leader.
Tourists enjoy admiring the many public works and places of interest that were constructed during Napoleon’s short reign on Elba. While you're here, why not take a few days to explore the entire seven islands of the Tuscan archipelago!
Photo credits
picture 2: Bruno Barral / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Bruno Barral / CC BY-SA 3.0;
