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The island of Elba offers memory of times gone-by during which this little island was fought over, for two main factors: its strategic geographical position and the wealth of minerals which lie in her earth, by all the big powers. Many civilizations and dominations have left their traces on this island. According to mythological narration it was at Porto Argoo, the actual Capo Bianco that Jason stopped over at during his adventurous research for the golden fleece. As related by Virgil in Aeneid, 300 Elban youths sailed from this same bay taking aid to Pio Enea in his fight against the Rutuli. |
| For the Etruscans Elba was an inexhaustible source of wealth, as early as the eighth century B.C. they exploited the mines and exported the ore mainly to the southern Mediterranean area making enormous profits. |  |
| Their ovens, for working iron, became numerous. After five centuries of Etruscan domination all that remains are several necropolis, a few remains of Etruscan furnaces, numerous "hill villages" integrated into incomparable surroundings. | |
| With the decline of the Etruscans, the Romans inherited the steel and iron industry but also exploited the granite quarries and discovered the curative mud baths of San Giovanni, the beauty of the landscape and the excellent wines. On the attractive bays of the Linguella, Roman Villa Le Grotte and Capo Castello sumptuous patrician villas were built, today still as delightful as ever. |
| During the Middle Ages it was the turn of the Maritime Republic of Pisa to exploit the iron ore mines and granite quarries. Of the Pisan domination much evidence remains, the refined romanesque churches and the Torre of San Giovanni in Campo, built on an enormous granite block, the imposing Fortezza of Marciana and the Volterraio castle, sentinels of both land and sea. |  |
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In 1548 the feudal state of the Appiani family was then followed by the control of Cosimo de'Medici who created his "Cosmopoli" (today Portoferraio) on the remains of the Roman "Fabricia". Enclosing the town with powerful walls, the inhabitants were then safe from pirate attacks. |
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The Spanish established themselves in Porto Azzurro and also set out to defend the territory by constructing the solemn Fort St. Giacomo which even today, as a penitentiary, towers over the lively town. Even the English, the Germans, and the French were interested in Elba and challenged each other through diplomacy and arms to gain control of the island |
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The historical period which made Elba famous was the brief exile of Napoleon, he remained nine months, from 4 may 1814 to 26 february 1815. Bonaparte left a significant mark on this minute kingdom. He built roads, riorganized the mining economy, increased the production and exportation of the local wines. From an ancient deconsecrated church he made a charming theatre, which, thanks to a clever restoration is today home to important international cultural events. On his return to France for his last fateful hundred days, Napoleon left two Elban residences (Villa di San Martino, Villa dei Mulini), both of which are now national museums frequented by thousands of visitors each year. |
