Portoferraio, Port town on Elba Island, Italy
Portoferraio is the main town on Elba Island in the Province of Livorno and sits around a sheltered harbor. Buildings climb from the water up to the hills where three fortresses dominate the skyline and divide the historic center from newer residential areas.
The settlement was founded in 1548 by Cosimo I de Medici as a fortified trading outpost against pirate raids and was initially called Cosmopoli. In the 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte spent nearly a year of his exile here and introduced reforms that changed infrastructure and administration.
The harbor has been the heart of the town for centuries and the waterfront promenade remains a meeting point for residents and visitors alike. The old quarters behind the fortress walls reveal narrow streets with small shops and workshops that give the place its character.
Ferries connect the harbor several times daily to Piombino on the mainland, with crossings lasting around an hour. Most of the sights in the historic center are within walking distance, though the climb to the upper fortresses can be steep.
The name literally means iron port and refers to centuries of iron ore export mined in the mountains of the island. Today only a few abandoned shafts and heaps outside the town recall this earlier mining tradition.
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