Excursions and visits
Discovering the Napoleonic Elba
The first Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, was exiled on the island of Elba in 1814-1815. It is possible to tread in his steps and visit the historically important sites he once spent time in.
Villa dei Mulini, was Napoleon's official residence during his stay in Elba. You can reach it on foot in the old city of Portoferraio.
Villa San Martino: is a "maison rustique", or a quaint villa, purchased by Napoleon in June 1814 to make it his summer residence.
Casetta Drouot: a historic 18th century building in Poggio, in which Napoleon often stayed and rested. While this house is very small, it was chosen as his "petite maison de bon repos".
Located on the west coast of the island, Napoleon's chair is nothing more than an armchair-shaped rock, however, Napoleon used it to admire his beloved and native Corsica
Isolotto della Paolina: owes its fame and its name to Napoleon Bonaparte's sister, Paolina Borghese, who particularly loved this "Rock" and actually, she used to bathe near it.
A visit to the town of Portoferraio
The capital of the Island of Elba, Portoferraio, or Antico Porto Argo as it is called in ancient Greek and in Latin mythology, is certainly an interesting destination for tourists. The mighty and prominent Medici Fortress, built in the 16th century by Cosimo I de 'Medici, sets the small seaside town apart. The dock of the small town is splendid and its tourist port is convenient and comfortable.
In Portoferraio there is a lot to visit: Forte Stella, the archaeological museum of the Linguella complex, the Villa dei Mulini (the winter residence of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte) together with the historic centre with its shops and restaurants, just to mention a few. To get the most of the tour of the historic centre of the capital we kindly suggest you contact a tourist guide who can help you appreciate the fortress and offer insightful historical and cultural aspects of the town.
The mines of Elba
In the eastern side of the Island of Elba there are various mining areas which go back to ancient times since first the Etruscans and then the Romans extracted iron ore from the subsoil of the island. Today it is possible to learn all about the mining history of the island on guided tours in the mines and their underground world.
For more information, please visit www.parcominelba.it or book a guided tour through www.safariinminiera.com.
Excursions by boat
Discover the Island of Elba from the sea by boat! This is the ideal way of admiring the coastal views, while soaking in the sun and taking the full advantage of the stunning Tuscan Archipelago. For more information and organisation of your excursion, please contact directly the reception of the Residence Il Mandorlo.
Excursion to the island of Pianosa
Pianosa, the island of the Tuscan Archipelago closest to Elba, is undoubtedly one of the most interesting guided excursions. With its 10.2 sq km, Pianosa is the fifth largest island of the archipelago and has an array of historical sites to be visited. Inhabited since prehistoric times and frequented by the most ancient navigators, it presents evidence of the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Also a site of residential structures also in Roman times, it was the place of exile for Postumio Agrippa, a grandson of Augustus. Later it was colonised by the Pisans and by a subsequent attempt of agricultural colonisation in 1800. From the unification of Italy to 1998 it was the place of agricultural activities for the prisoners on the island. In 1999, following the closure of the Pianosa prison, it remained almost uninhabited and was open to guided tours.
For more information and reservations use the following link.