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Island of Elba The family Medici in Elba
At the time of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (sec. XIII)
In the thirteenth century Elba became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, ruled by Leopold II. The Grand Duke put into effect many legislative and administrative reforms that enhanced a rapid economic growth. The production of iron, salt, wine and trades had a large increase. During this time, small groups of warehouses and fishermen's homes that had once characterized the shores of Elba saw the rise of the "Marinas": Marina of Rio, Marina of Marciana and Portoferraio became the headquarters of the Grand Duchy's fleet.
The Medici family in Elba (four-seventeenth century)
In 1548, Cosimo I de' Medici, obtained from Charles V, under the Florentine lordship of the Medici family, the charge to defend Elba and the trades in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Cosimo de 'Medici strongly believed in the strength of the island and wanted to make it the center of the Florentine lordship over the Tyrrhenian Sea. As a matter of fact, he furthered the fortification of Ferraja (Portoferraio), which became a jewel of urban military. In May 1548, architect Balducci, and later Camerini, began to fortify the city of Cosimo thus restoring harmony between sea, land and architecture which gave to the village a new face and name (Cosmopolis), "cradle of civilization and culture, example of balance and rationality ".
The Gulf of Portoferraio became an invincible
fortress as well as a safe naval base and a strategic
site for defense thanks to the shape of its natural harbor, which
had a strip of land that closed into a spiral and was protected
on either side by two promontories overlooking the sea.
On top of the headlands were built Forts Stella
and Falcone, and on the stretch of land that
surrounded the dock was erected the picturesque Fort
Linguella.
Later Cosmopoli was fortified with defence walls
and ramparts also along its inland side,
following the wise designs of the architect Bernardo
Buontalenti. The ditch, which separated Portoferraio
from the rest of Elba making it an unconquerable isle, was digged
later in 1600.
In 1555 the defences of Cosmopol were hardly tested by the pirate
Dragut, who after having conquered and looted
Capoliveri, Rio, San Piero, Sant'Ilario and Pomonte, left the
island on the way to Corsica without being able to conquer
Portoferraio.
To fight the Turkish piracy, Cosimo I de' Medici, following the
model of the order of Malta, founded the Order of the
Knights of Santo Stefano by building the convent
of San Salvatore (now Caserma De Laugier) which
represented their headquarter and that of the Navy arsenal of
Galezze for the maintenance of their fleet.
At the end of the dynasty of the House of Medici, Cosmopoli, as well as the whole Grand Duchy of Tuscany, passed to the House of Lorena. Later it was annexed to the Kingdom of France, which after two centuries returned to rule on Elba. The island was reigned by Napoleon Bonaparte for about 10 month, who lived in the Villa dei Mulini during his Exile. The house, which is located in the historic center of Portoferraio, dominates the entrance to the town harbor.
Biscuit Palace
Built at the request ofKing Cosimo I, today it is the seat of
Town Hall of Portoferraio.
Galleass of dockyard
Wanted by Cosimo de' Medici, currently hosts the covered indoor
market of Portoferraio.
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Recommended excursions
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