Hotels 
Apartments 
Residences 
Villas 
Farmhouse 
Bed&Breakfast 
Camping sites 
Agencies 
Campo nell'Elba 
Rio 
Capoliveri 
Marciana 
Portoferraio 
Porto Azzurro 
Marciana Marina 
Island of Elba De’ Medici fortresses
Approaching by ferry to the harbour of
Portoferraio, you can glimpse the charm of the
majestic complex of De’ Medici fortifications, that enclose in
walls the harbour and the ancient city of Portoferraio in a
suggestive glance. Wanted by the Tuscan Grand Duke Cosimo
I de Medici, with the consent of Charles V, King of
Spain, who exercised an active protection of the Principality of
Piombino, of which the Elba Island was part, in April of 1548
started the majestic monumental works that would defend the city
from the continuous attacks and invasions, very common at the
time.
The project of De’ Medici fortresses, was
entrusted to the architects Gian Battista Camerini and
Bonucci who was succeeded later in the direction work,
by the architect Bernardo Buontalenti.
Concluded the construction of field defenses of Fort
Falcone and Fort Stella, as well as the
Tower of Linguella in 1555,on continued with the
construction of the fort bastions of Fort Terra
for a stretch along about 500 meters.
The Medicean bastions were built on four levels (Bastion
"Veneziano", "Casino di Mezzo", "the balls", and "the Crow"), and
this structure ensured a secure protection against attacks that
could come from the "Porta a Terra ", that was at this time
separated from the rest of the island by a moat that covered from
the current Dock of the High Backdrop to the Ghiaie beach and was
crossed by a small bridge.
Between Fort Falcone and Fort Stella was erected, the
bastion of the Mills, to strengthen the natural
defense that offered steep cliff overlooking the sea and takes
its name from the presence of two ancient windmills area. Three
other bastions, were built to follow between the Fort Stella and
the Tower Linguella ( "the Pagliai", "Major" and "San Cosimo).On
the side that looked at the dock,was erected a huge and high wall
was erected, which ended to close the entire fortress in the city
where the only entry point was that in the Porta a
Mare.
The visit path, at the De’ Medici fortresses, winds through the
Fronte di Attacco, a set of bastions which develops to a length
of about 500 meters and close to the West in the ancient
Cosmopolis, the city of Cosimo. An impressive
architectural complex, majestic and rational above all safe
enough to put you off, already in 1553, an attempted attack by
the dreaded pirate turkish Dragut who come to
Elba with many ships commissioned by the French, after carefully
studying the defensive front, judged it invulnerable.
Informazioni sulla visita alla Fortezze Medicee
| Luogo: |
Da Piazza Cavour nel centro storico di Portoferraio,
situata alle spalle dalla Porta a Mare, percorrete in
salita Via Guerrazzi, dove sulla sinistra prima del
tunnel in discesa è situato l'ingresso ai bastioni
medicei. |
| Orario: |
Dal 30 Marzo al 10 Giugno e dal 27 Agosto al 4
Novembre
Dall' 11 Giugno al 26 Agosto |
| Prezzi | |
| Luogo e Info |
Centro storico di Portoferraio Cosimo de Medici Srl Tel.(+39) 0565.9444024 porto@marinadiportoferraio.i |
Linguella Tower
Also known as a Martello Tower is recognizable for its octagonal
shape that dominates the entrance to the port of
Portoferraio.
Fort Falcone
Impressive De’ Medici fortification that dominates the historic
center of Portoferraio.
Fort Stella
With star-shaped plant, it is located above the ancient city of
Portoferraio and is one of three main structures of De’ Medici
fortresses.
English Fort
Wanted by Cosimo III, it was built in 1700 and during his
troubled history various names have been assigned.
Elbaworld suggests
What to visit
Discover places and attractions nearby.
Recommended excursions
Discover incredibly beautiful excursions on Elba Island.
