ELBA ISLAND AND NAPOLEONE BONAPARTE

The Isle of Elba is celebrated in Italy and all around the world, for its beauties and for the minerals that you can find in its subsoil. But its most famous feature is linked to one name: Napoleone Bonaparte.

During the 18th century, Elba was disputed by the Austrians, the Germans, the English and the French, through frantic diplomatic treaties and fierce battles. Finally it was Napoleon Bonaparte who gained full ownership and sovereignty of the island. During his ten months of government he made important changes: he built roads, reorganized the mining economy and increased the production and export of wine.
From an ancient deconsecrated church he made a charming theater that after an expert restoration that brought it back to its ancient splendour, today is the seat of important cultural exhibitions.
When he returned to France, for the decisive hundred days, Napoleon left two residences that have become National Museums visited by thousands of tourists every year...

VILLA DEI MULINI
Piazzale Napoleone in the historical center of Portoferraio
Official residence of Napoleon and his court. It was built a century before his arrival, near some windmills (‘mulino’ means ‘mill’) that from the high position made use of the sea breeze. Of great interest are the period furniture, the weapons, the paintings, the Emperor’s library and the garden with a beautiful view over the gulf.

VILLA SAN MARTINO
At San Martino (5 km. from Portoferraio)
Napoleon’s country residence owes its present appearance to Prince Demidoff, in fact a distant relation of the Emperor. In 1851 he bought the simple house and enlargened it with a neoclassic building that was later transformed in a museum called “Demidoff Gallery”. Inside the gallery there is a statue of Galathea attributed to Canova for which posed Paolina Bonaparte Borghese, Napoleon’s sister.
The frescos inside the villa are by the painter Ravelli.