Portoferraio tourist information
Portoferraio Italy
It is the principal town of the island with 11.500 inhabitants. Other suburbs of the town are: San Giovanni, Schiopparello, Magazzini, Carpani, Bagnaia, San Martino, La Biodola. The island of Montecristo belongs to this administration.
The Palazzina dei Mulini is a national monument, situated between Forte Stella and Forte Falcone, which are the two medicean fortresses of Portoferraio. It was the official residence of Napoleon and his sister Paolina. The museum houses several relics and from the garden you can enjoy a beautiful panorama on the Tyrrhenian sea. The Villa of S. Martino, at 5 km from Portoferraio, was Napoleon's summer dwelling. Worth seeing are the Egyptian Hall and the Demidoff Gallery. In the Museum of the Church of Reverenda Misericordia are kept important relics belonging to Napoleon, such as the bronze dead-mask taken at Saint Helena by his personal doctor Antonmarchi.
The most important forts are Forte Falcone and Forte Stella (in the old town) and the Torre del Martello (near the entrance of the old harbour). Worth seeing are also: the Roman Villa of Le Grotte, which dates back to I cent.B.C - I cent.A.C; the romanesque Church of S. Stefano alle Trane (XII cent.); the preroman Fortezza d'Altura Etrusca del Castiglione and the International Art Centre of Italo Bolano in S. Martino; the Pinacoteca Foresiana (a painting collection); the Foresian Library and the Botanic Palm Garden of Ottone.
In Portoferraio's harbour, which is completely surrounded by quays, you can moore ships up to medium tonnage, while in the roadstead, every type of ship can be anchored. It is possible to pilot, berth and haul (crane up to 260 tons). In addition Fire-Service, First-Aid, water, food and fuel supply are provided.
