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Island of Elba Fort Falcone
Fort Falcone is one of the most important parts
of the defensive system of De’ Medici
fortifications in Portoferraio with its
2360 square meters of surface. Wanted By Cosimo I de' Medici, it
was designed by the architect Giovanni Battista
Bellucci of San Marino and erected in
1548, of which the construction works were followed by the
architect Giovanni Camerini, the official
builder of the fortress, entirely made in clay blocks.
Located on the higher hills of Portoferraio at 79 meters above
sea level, from its terraces you can admire the beautiful
panoramic glimpse of the harbour of the country, it can be
reached from the centre of the town to Via della Regina that will
lead to an uphill road until the majestic fort entrance.
The Fort Falcone entrance is preceded by an avant-corps of 1745
in the past used as a powder magazine and over the impressive
wooden door lies a marble plaque where the following inscription
is engraved: (Templa Moenaia Domos Arces Portum Cosmus
Florentinorium DUX II A fundamentis Erexit a. MDXLVIII), of the
same style of those located on the Porta a Mare
and Forte Stella and that remind the foundation
by the Granduca Cosimo I de 'Medici.
The entrance of the fort opens on the east side, which was once
protected by a drawbridge where there still is a tambour with
slots. You enter on a barrel vault from which start the interior
fort hallways along the ancient defensive moat.
Following a short climb, on reach the ramparts that had the task
to protecting the land side of the fortress and continuing the
walkway that runs along the perimeter of the fort on reach the
fort of the sea where the cliff is a natural and insurmountable
defence . Along the way it is possible to admire on the left the
plaque dedicated to political prisoner Francesco
Domenico Guerrazzi and under the
planking level there is an ancient and large cistern that was
used to merge the rainwater and guaranteed a water supply in case
of siege.
Inside the fort there are several buildings dating back to the
40s of the twentieth century, year in which also passed to the
navy that changed the interior rooms and built a two levels
building that hosted the dwellings. Recently, these rooms have
been restored to a civil and commercial re-use of the structure.
Originally the fort had been designed with underground rooms and
the planking levels located about two meters from the natural
soil in order to provide the maximum space for manoeuvre in case
of siege and the rooms were used as warehouses, prisons and
dwellings. Today to visit this embankment surrounded by arches
and rooms with groin and barrel vault that can be reach via a
small staircase that is on the left, while on the right there is
a blocked tunnel which hosts an underground path that lead to the
nearest Ghiaie beach.
Of the four original bartizans placed at the main corners of the
fort, only two are preserved in time, one on the north-east
characterized by the Cross of Lorraine and the
other on on the south-west which was rebuilt after World War
II.
Today the Fort Falcone is an important meeting place, where
sometimes cultural and gastronomic events carry out.
Informazioni sul Forte Falcone
| Orari |
Dal 13 Giugno al 13 Settembre - dalle ore 10:00 alle 20:00 Dal 2 Aprile al 12 Giugno - dalle ore 10:00 alle 16:30 Dal 14 Settembre all'11 Ottobre - dalle ore 10:00 alle 16:30
|
| Prezzi |
€ 3,00 Intero - € 2,00 Ridotto * € 5,50 Biglietto cumulativo valido per tre giorni che comprende la visita del Museo civico archeologico, Teatro dei Vigilanti e delle Fortezze Medicee . |
| Luogo e info |
Centro storico di Portoferraio Partendo dalla Palazzina dei Mulini, proseguite verso sinistra per via del Falcone e proseguite fino a trovare sulla destra un sentiero che conduce all'entrata del Forte. Per info e prenotazioni: Cosimo de' Medici Srl - Tel. (+39)0565.944024 |
Linguella Tower
Also known as a Martello Tower is recognizable for its octagonal
shape that dominates the entrance to the port of
Portoferraio.
De’ Medici fortresses
Wanted by Cosimo I de Medici, embracing the entire city of Portoferraio with its bastions.
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.
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