Portoferraio (Historical itinerary)

It's the biggest town on the whole island and it also has the greatest number of monuments. We have described a visit to Falcon Fort, Stella Fort and the Windmill Villa. The forts are located on two hills above the historic center and the villa is located between the two, as you can see from the photo of Portoferraio.

Let's start the tour with Fort Falcon which has many entrances, but that which is open to the public is located in Via Guerrazzi. The fort was built in 1548 by the Medici in defense of the continuous attacks by pirates. Its ample interior is terraced, and is connected by numerous stairs and sub-passages. The walls are very imposing and circle the whole historical center of Portoferraio, as you can see from the photo. Thanks to its height you can see the whole town and the surrounding area.

Stella Fort	Forte Stella	Porta d'ingresso	Vista Darsena
	Forte Stella	Il Faro	Forte Stella

After this visit go in the direction of Fort Stella, distinguished from Fort Falcon by its rosy color and domination of the bay (located on the second hill of Portoferraio). It was built in the same year as Fort Falcon for the same reason of defense. From the privileged position of this smaller fort, your view jumps from the gardens of the Windmill Villa to the harbour and the whole historical center.

Windmill Villa	Villa dei Mulini	Stanza da letto	Esterno Villa
	Napoleone	Giardino	Sala riunioni

Exiting the forts, go 150 m where there is the Windmill villa in which Napoleone stayed from 1814-1815. Inside there are numerous objects characteristic of that period, a pretty garden and panoramic vista over the rocks.

The Portoferraio Museum

The Linguella Civic Museum : loc.Linguella tel. 39 0565 937370
Communal Foresiana Picture Gallery: salita Napoleone tel. 39 0565 937371
Roman Villa of the Grotto: loc. Le Grotte

Falcon Fort

Stella Fort

Napoleonic Museum: Windmill Villa tel. 39 0565 915846
Villa the S. Martino tel. 39 0565 914688