If, on Elba, you are on the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte, you, absolutely, can not miss visiting the house of the Mulini (Palazzina dei Mulini) in Portoferraio, where Napoleon lived for nearly ten months in 1814 (May 4, 1814 he landed on the island) and 1815 (February 26, 1815), in addition to this is to visit the Villa di San Martino, who was the country residence of the former emperor. 

The Palazzina dei Mulini is located in Portoferraio, in the vicinity of the Forte Stella, in the north of the piazzale Napoleone. Inside you can see the rooms inhabited by Napoleon and his court: unfortunately the furnishings are not original as the originals were lost, but were replaced with others of the period to which they relate. Inside, you can visit the study, the reception room, the servants room, the hall, the bedroom, very interesting is the visit to the library which contains over 1000 volumes from Fontainebleau, the gallery where is a painting by Jacques-Louis David illustrating Napoleon at the Great St. Bernard pass, the room of Napoleon's sister, Pauline, where there is a bust of the Emperor made by Francesco Rude. Finally the gardens, from which you can enjoy a nice view of the northeast coast of the island of Elba and of Stella and Falcone fortresses. 

The visit to the country home of Napoleon, the villa of San Martino, is a must, is located about 6 km from Portoferraio, at the foot of the mountain from which it takes its name. Designed by Paolo Bargigli in 1814, the interior was decorated by Vincenzo Ravelli, the building is preceded by the museum built by architect Matas thanks to the intervention of Prince Demidoff, a distant relative of the emperor. Before reaching the building to notice the beautiful gate, where stand the statues of eagles, bees and the letter N. Inside the gallery are two rows of massive columns that support it, in addition to the furnishings, you'll see paintings dating from the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries, a collection of fish and birds, and statues, including the most famous, that of Canova, whose female figure seems to portray Pauline Bonaparte. 

From the gallery you climb through the ladders at the residence including the eight rooms of the Emperor Napoleon: the Egyptian hall decorated with paintings that recall the famous Egyptian campaign; the boardroom also called the doves, because the ceiling were painted at the behest of Napoleon, two birds tied together by a knot that tightens as they move away; the bedroom, the hallway, the study and other rooms belonging to different generals. The visit to the villa ends admiring the plants and flowers in the garden. 

SEARCH FOR ACCOMMODATION IN ELBA ISLAND:

The Palazzina dei Mulini (right) seen from the sea, Portoferraio, Elba Island