Sail out to Elba Island of the Tuscan archipelago to explore the fascinating ruins of Medici fortifications built here. In the 16th century King Carlo V gave ownership of the island’s town, Portoferraio to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo de’ Medici who then named it ‘Cosmopoli’.
Soon afterwards Cosimo sent a team of skilled architects to transform Portoferraio into an impressive walled town of towers, bastions and ramparts.
This fortified town was to act as a military defensive post against Turkish attacks.
Soon afterwards Cosimo sent a team of skilled architects to transform Portoferraio into an impressive walled town of towers, bastions and ramparts.
This fortified town was to act as a military defensive post against Turkish attacks.
Three notable fortifications that will stand out during your visit here are that of Stella, Linguello and Falcone. The wall that surrounded Portoferraio had only two entrances and tourists can still see what remains of the Chemin de Ronde, a patrol path that soldiers would have marched along on top of this wall.
Walk up the winding stair streets and steep pathways towards the top of Portoferraio town. Admire the magnificently designed star shaped Forte Stella here. A lighthouse was added late in the 18th century to serve as a guiding beacon to visitors and trading ships to the island.
Walk up the winding stair streets and steep pathways towards the top of Portoferraio town. Admire the magnificently designed star shaped Forte Stella here. A lighthouse was added late in the 18th century to serve as a guiding beacon to visitors and trading ships to the island.
Forte Falcone is situated at the very top of Portoferraio and has an impressive network of underground tunnels connecting areas of the fortress to other parts of the town. Now it’s home to a museum dedicated to the history and development of ‘Cosmopoli’, now called Portoferraio.
Imagine the atmosphere of Elba Island back when these fortifications were manned by soldiers, protecting Portoferraio from Turkish attacks. Discover other interesting attractions on Elba Island such as the Napoleon Houses and the beautiful churches here.
Stay in a stunning villa on Elba Island and experience the very best of what this Tuscan gem has to offer!
Imagine the atmosphere of Elba Island back when these fortifications were manned by soldiers, protecting Portoferraio from Turkish attacks. Discover other interesting attractions on Elba Island such as the Napoleon Houses and the beautiful churches here.
Stay in a stunning villa on Elba Island and experience the very best of what this Tuscan gem has to offer!
Photo credits
picture 1: ByB / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: ByB / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0
