Portoferraio, a pearl on the island of Elba

Portoferraio is the main town on the island of Elba. You are immediately struck by the dock, with its characteristic horseshoe shape. Cosimo I de Medici was the first to build the imposing fortresses that defend the port. The urban and defensive complex took the name of Cosmopoli (city of Cosimo) and was a sort of island within the island, separated from the remaining portion of land by large moats. The three main protective structures of Portoferraio deserve to be admired: the Torre della Linguella, the mighty Forte Falcone and Forte Stella. The ancient importance of these places is testified by the vestiges of the Roman villa delle Grotte, an ancient domus of the imperial era. It is historically known that Napoleon made a first exile on the island of Elba: the two villas where he lived during that period are therefore worth a visit. Villa dei Mulini was the winter residence, while Villa di San Martino was the summer home. The first house houses the National Museum of Napoleonic Residences, and both structures are now very interesting museums. Seaside tourism is also of the highest quality in Portoferraio, thanks to the beauty of the coasts: the Ghiaie beach (so called for its white gravel) and the Viste beach are worth a visit.