Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
Old Town
From the ferry terminal, it's less than a kilometre along the foreshore to the Old Town, a
spiderweb of narrow streets and alleys that stagger uphill from the old harbour and water-
front to Portoferraio's defining twinset of forts,
Forte Falcone
and the salmon-pink
Forte
Stella
.
From central square Piazza Cavour head uphill along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi to the
foot of the monumental
Scalinata Medici
, a fabulous mirage of 140 wonky stone steps cas-
cading up through every sun-lit shade of amber to the dark, dimly lit 17th-century
Chiesa
della Misericordia
(Via della Misericordia)
. Inside is Napoleon's death mask. Continue to the
top of the staircase to reach the forts and Napoleonic villa.
HISTORIC QUARTER
Museo Nazionale della
Residenza Napoleoniche
(Piazzale Napoleone; 9am-7pm Mon & Wed-Sat, to 1pm Sun)
Up on the bastions, between the
two forts, is Villa dei Mulini (also known as Palazzo dei Mulini), home to Napoleon dur-
ing his stint as emperor of this small isle. With its Empire-style furnishings, splendid lib-
rary, fig-tree-studded Italianate gardens and unbeatable sea view, the emperor certainly
didn't want for creature comforts during his brief Elban exile - contrast his Elba lifestyle
with the simplicity of his camp bed and travelling trunk when he was on the campaign
trail. The museum was closed for renovation at the time of writing.
HOUSE MUSEUM
Sleeping
Half-board is usually the only option in August and many hotels close between November
and Easter. The best places to stay are a short drive from the town centre.
Villa Ombrosa
( 05 6591 4363;
www.villaombrosa.it
; Via Alcide de Gasperi 3; d from €95; )
One of the
few Portoferraio hotels in town (and also open year-round), three-star Ombrosa looks out
to sea and the pinprick islet of Lo Scoglietto. The decor is a jumble of styles, but summer
rates include a lounger and umbrella on a strip of Spiaggia delle Ghiaie (Ghiaie Beach)
across the street, and rooms with a sea view tout pocket-sized balconies.
HOTEL
€
Rosselba Le Palme
CAMPGROUND
€
