Portoferraio, Italy: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 210 - 360 Hotel Villa Ottone
 Hotel Villa Ottone offers luxurious accommodation in front of the sea on Elba Island. A panoramic restaurant, an outdoor pool, a free private beach an… MoreEUR 60 - 435 Hotel Villa Ombrosa
 Location in a panoramic position 10 minutes´ walk from Portoferraio centre, Villa Ombrosa has a private beach you can use free. The terrace off… MoreEUR 70 - 140 Hotel Santo Stefano
 Set in the hills overlooking the Gulf of Portoferraio, Santo Stefano is a historic country house offering extensive gardens, panoramic views and a res… MoreEUR 46 - 200 Hotel Residence Villa San Giovanni
 Spend a truly Mediterranean holiday at Hotel Residence Villa San Giovanni, set in a pleasant, tranquil area of Elba Island, 300 metres from the therma… MoreEUR 39 - 400 Hotel Villa Padulella
 Offering panoramic sea views, Hotel Villa Padulella is set in Portoferraio, the largest town on Elba Island. It offers air-conditioned rooms and a lar… MoreEUR 100 - 300 Hotel Viticcio
 Hotel Viticcio offers free parking, a seafront position, and an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the sea. It is in a peaceful location of Elba … MoreEUR 60 - 250 Residence Sottobomba
 Located on the island of Elba, Residence Sottobomba is just 50 metres from a white pebble beach. It offers free parking, and apartments with independe… MoreEUR 70 - 656 Relais delle Picchiaie
 Enjoy a relaxing stay at Relais delle Picchiaie, a top-quality, family-run hotel overlooking the Portoferraio Gulf from its beautiful setting in green… MoreEUR 64 - 373 Park Hotel Napoleone
 Park Hotel Napoleone is an 18th-century villa surrounded by greenery on Elba Island, and overlooking Portoferraio where Napoleon was exiled. It offers… MoreEUR 44 - 272 Hotel Mare
 Standing in the old maritime village of Magazzinisituated, on the gulf of Portoferraio, the hotel is secluded from traffic and noise, making it the i… MoreEUR 84 - 188 Hotel Il Caminetto
 Il Caminetto is a rustic and comfortable establishment situated in the very centre of Elba Island, the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago, and part of … MoreEUR 180 - 415 Hotel Airone
 Situated in front of a splendid fortress, the Rocca Medicea di Portoferraio, the hotel is set in a tranquil area, surrounded by the greenery of large … MoreEUR 59 - 276 Hotel Acquamarina
 On top of Portoferraio´s coast, Hotel Acquamarina offers views over the Gulf of Padulella and direct access to the beach below. Free private par… MoreEUR 70 - 250 Elba Golf Apartments
 On the beautiful island of Elba, halfway between Portoferraio and Porto Azzurro, you will find an attractive set of modern apartments located on the e… MoreEUR 75 - 200 Agriturismo Valle Di Lazzaro
 Located within a private vineyard, family-run Agriturismo Valle Di Lazzaro is just 2 km from Portoferraio. It features an outdoor pool and offers free… MoreEUR 137 - 440 Hotel Biodola
 Hotel Biodola is in a quiet, panoramic position a few steps from its free private beach, one of the most exclusive ones in Elba. It has a spa and pool… MoreEUR 90 - 210 Hotel Crystal
 Located just outside the Medici Walls, very near the centre and Le Ghiaie Beach, Hotel Residence Crystal offers great accommodation and amenities incl… MoreEUR 242 - 660 Hotel Hermitage
 Surrounded by the rich vegetation of a Tuscan National Park and set directly on Biodola´s stunning sandy bay, Hotel Hermitage offers a luxurious… MoreEUR 70 - 396 Hotel Fabricia
 Play tennis, go swimming, relax on the private beach, admire sea views and savour fine food at the elegant Hotel Fabricia, set directly in front of th… MoreEUR 60 - 220 Hotel Danila
 Hotel Danila is set on the Gulf of Biodala, a few steps from 3 of the most beautiful beaches on Elba Island. It features a large garden and panoramic … MoreEUR 75 - 210 Acquaviva Park Hotel
 Acquaviva Park Hotel offers beautiful sea views and a free shuttle service to the neighbouring beaches and the old town of Portoferraio. Free parking … More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portoferraio, Italy: Guide
Portoferraio is a town and commune in the province of Livorno, on the edge of the eponymous harbour of the island of Elba. It is the island's largest city. Because of its terrain, many of its buildings are situated on the slopes of a tiny hill surrounded on three sides by the sea.
History
It was founded by Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1548, with the name of Cosmopoli ("Cosimo's City"), to balance the presence of the Spanish citadel in Porto Azzurro. It had three forts (Forte Stella, Forte Falcone and Forte Inglese) and a massive line of walls, all still visible today.
The city remained to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the 18th century, when, due to its strategic position, it was contended by France, England and Austria. In 1814 it was handed over to Napoleon Bonaparte, as the seat of his first exile. In the 19th century, the city grew quickly, due to the construction of infrastructures and the exploitation of new iron mills in Rio Marina. Portoferraio became then main shipping port of the ore towards the mainland, whence the current name, meaning "Iron Port" in Italian. After the end of the Napoleonic Era, Portoferraio returned to Tuscany, and became part of the unification of Italy|Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
Portoferraio's economy suffered from the end of mining activities starting from the 1970s, but in the following decades it gained a status as an internationally renowned tourist resort.
Main sights
The town center is crowded around the small marina drawn in a natural cove.
Main points of interest include:
Forte Stella
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Portoferraio, Italy". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Forte Falcone
Forte Inglese
Archeological museum
Napoleon's house External links
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