Portoferraio

Portoferraio is a town and commune in the province of Livorno, on the edge of the eponymous harbour of the island of Elba. It is the island's largest city. Because of its terrain, many of its buildings are situated on the slopes of a tiny hill surrounded on three sides by the sea. Portoferraio was founded by Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1548, with the name of Cosmopoli ("Cosimo's City"), to balance the presence of the Spanish citadel in Porto Azzurro. It had three forts (Forte Stella, Forte Falcone and Forte Inglese) and a massive line of walls, all still visible today.

The city remained to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the 18th century, when, due to its strategic position, it was contended by France, England and Austria. In 1814 it was handed over to Napoleon Bonaparte, as the seat of his first exile. In the 19th century, the city grew quickly, due to the construction of infrastructures and the exploitation of new iron mills in Rio Marina. Portoferraio became then main shipping port of the ore towards the mainland, whence the current name, meaning "Iron Port" in Italian. After the end of the Napoleonic Era, Portoferraio returned to Tuscany, and became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Portoferraio's economy suffered from the end of mining activities starting from the 1970s, but in the following decades it gained a status as an internationally renowned tourist resort.

16 °C


Clouds, broken clouds


Wind2.99 m/s
Cloudiness72 %
Temperature (min/max)16/18 °C
Pressure1012 hpa
Humidity71 %
Last update: 19 Nov 2024 @ 10:43

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  • Hotel Viticcio2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel ViticcioHotel Viticcio in Portoferraio offers 32 rooms of different types which are elegantly furnished and all en-suite. Portoferraio based Hotel Viticcio allows small breed animals, offers a Public beach from June until September with beach-chairs and serves buffet/self-service meals as well as offering agarden with sun-loungers for guests. READ MORE

  • Enfola Camping2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Enfola CampingThe Camping Enfola situated in Portoferraio offers fifty station areas for camping cars, caravan, tents, all connected to the electricity and with a panoramic view. Snorkelling and scuba-diving in fascinating deeps, canoeing and sailing across the splendid bay, trekking and biking through wooded tracks: this is Camping Enfola, the ideal destination for nature and sport lovers in Portoferraio.READ MORE

Featured Businesses

  • Hotel Danila2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel DanilaHotel Danila lies only a few meters away from the beaches of Scaglieri and Biodola in Portoferraio and is situated on 4 garden terraces where you can find the 27 rooms, the restaurant, the kitchen, the halls and the reception. Hotel Danila organizes excursions through trekking, mountain biking, snorkelling and kayak with specialized guides around the hotel complex in Portoferraio.READ MORE

  • Hotel Relais delle Picchiaie

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel Relais delle Picchiaie Visit Hotel Relais delle Picchiaie in PortoferraioREAD MORE

  • Hotel Villa Padulella2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel Villa PadulellaThe Hotel Villa Padulella is situated in Portoferraio in an enchanting spot overlooking the sea and protected areas of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipel. The Hotel Villa Padulella complex offers balcony en suite rooms, a living room, TV room, small meeting room, bar with panoramic terrace in Portoferraio, the main town of the island.READ MORE

  • Hotel Airone 2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel Airone Hotel Airone in Portoferraio is situated in front of the splendid fortress, the Rocca Medicea di Portoferraio, in a very quiet area of the Isle of Elba. Residence Aironella near Hotel Airone have 11 apartments sleeping up to 6 guests while the hotel offers 85 en suite rooms for guests visiting Portoferraio. READ MORE

  • Hotel Massimo2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel MassimoHotel Massimo looks out on the suggestive fortress of Portoferraio and lies near the typical white gravel beach with hotel rooms, a meeting-room and an excellent restaurant with panoramic terrace on Portoferraio bay. READ MORE

  • Park Hotel Napoleone2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Park Hotel NapoleonePark Hotel Napoleone is an 18th century villa set in a magnificent natural park, on the hillside above Portoferraio offering various resort facilities including - Poolside bar and restaurant, Private beach, Spa with treatments, Fully equipped conference room and one suite and 63 rooms in Portoferraio in Tuscany.READ MORE

  • Hotel Mare 2009-10-26

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel Mare Hotel Mare stands in the old maritime village of Magazzini situated on the gulf of Portoferraio and has a sailing school and diving center available for water sports enthusiasts, a Golf Club, Mountain biking and Trekking and the marina are nearby attractions for guests at the Hotel Mare to enjoy in Portoferraio. READ MORE

  • Hotel Fabricia

    Located in Portoferraio, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

    Hotel FabriciaVisit Hotel Fabricia in PortoferraioREAD MORE