The Museums of the Island of Elba

The Civic Archaeological Museum of the Rio nell Elba Mining District shows the history of eastern Elba, closely linked to its extraordinary mineral resources, exploited from Protohistory to the contemporary age. Inaugurated in 2003, the Museum exhibits its collection in a large room overlooking the hills that slope down to the sea, the same hills that for over two millennia have provided the precious iron. The oldest archaeological materials that can be seen inside the museum are the Neolithic ones (from the end of the third millennium BC) that come from the funerary objects of the cave of San Giuseppe, where an entire community that had settled near the sea. In 2009 the Museum was enriched with the Elba Minerals Collection of the People of Rio: the people of Rio collected and donated various samples of minerals from Elba to make them visible to all through the Museum.

The Civic Archaeological Museum of the Rio nell Elba mining district is open from Easter week until the end of October.

During the other months of the year it can be visited by appointment – telephone number +39 0565-962088 – email: info@parcominelba.it.

Elba’s “Orto dei Semplici” is located along the road that connects Rio nell’Elba to Nisporto. Once the car is parked, you enter the garden via a long dirt path lined with cypresses, at the end of it you will see the lawn overlooking the ancient Hermitage of Santa Caterina, to the left of which is the Orto dei Semplici. The area has been divided into 10 thematic sections and, to be precise, we have the Mediterranean scrub, the pergola, the flora of the marine dunes, the sacred plants of ancient civilizations, the plants of the ancient Elban gardens, the labyrinth, the amphitheater, the butterfly garden, the orchard and the large field. The Orto dei Semplici was born from an idea of Garbari and Corsi, two talented biologists of the University of Pisa, with the aim of conserving and enhancing the species of naturalistic, pharmaceutical, agricultural and forestry interest of the Archipelago and to protect the natural resources, some very rare, of the Island of Elba.

Orto dei Semplici Elbano – Phone number +39 0565 943428 / Roberto Ballini tel. +39 339 2974678 – email: ortodeisemplicielbano@gmail.com

The Foresian Municipal Library is located inside the De Laugier Cultural Center, in the historic center of Portoferraio. Its history begins in 1815 when Napoleon, leaving for France, gives his precious library as a gift to the Community of Portoferraio. The collection of books over the years was expanded thanks to donations from both public and private entities including Giuseppe Garibaldi and Mario Foresi: the latter gave as a gift 14,000 volumes of great historical and cultural value, it is no coincidence that the library owes its proper name to him. The Foresian Library also houses works and manuscripts of great historical, artistic and mineralogical interest on the Island of Elba, as well as a collection of works from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in rare and precious editions. It can be considered the most complete documentation center on the Tuscan Archipelago. Inside there is the Children’s Library where initiatives dedicated to the promotion of reading for children and their families are organized.

Biblioteca Foresiana at Centro Culturale De Laugier – Salita Napoleone – 57037 – Portoferraio (LI) – Telephone number: +39.0565 937371 Email: biblioteca@comune.portoferraio.li.it

Villa dei Mulini and Villa San Martino are probably the two most famous national museums on the Island of Elba, this is because they were the residences of Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile. The Villa dei Mulini houses the precious library of Napoleon and in its splendid garden you can admire two statues, one of Minerva (which should date back to ancient Greece) and a copy of Galatea by Canova, for which it seems  Paolina Borghese posed. It also enjoys one of the most beautiful sea views on that side. The Villa of San Martino is the summer residence of Napoleon who, in addition to the splendid Egyptian room dedicated to the Egyptian countryside and the romantic knot room, houses the interesting Demidoff gallery where the original sculpture of Galatea sculpted by Canova is kept.

For security reasons, the entrance to the villas is only allowed for 30 people at a time. For information this is the telephone number: +39 0565 915846

NAT – LAB, the Naturalistic Museum of the Tuscan Archipelago is located inside the English Fort of Portoferraio and inside it houses and safeguards the entomological, zoological and botanical collections of the Tuscan Archipelago. The museum was born thanks to the passion and will of Leonardo Forbicioni, who wanted to give everyone the opportunity to feel like a true naturalist: in this museum you have the opportunity to explore the biodiversity of land, water and air. It is a truly engaging multimedia journey with descriptions, photos and audio of the verses of the exhibits. This museum also has an application for Android and Apple phones that we recommend you download: NatLab.

For more information: NatLab at Forte Inglese in Portoferraio, telephone number: +39 0565 908231

International Open Air Italo Bolano is a place for artists and public, wanted and conceived by the famous Elban artist Italo Bolano. The purpose is to meet, discuss, work or simply hang out in the park. The magical and timeless atmosphere in which the 30 monuments coexist in perfect harmony with nature is an experience to try. The 10,000 square meter park, adorned with Mediterranean plants, mimosas, eucalyptus, cypresses, myrtles and oleanders, now houses galleries for exhibitions, conference spaces, ceramic workshops, open-air theater and bookshops. This museum is one of the first modern art trails recognized by the Tuscany Region (TRAART)

International Open Air Italo Bolano, Via di S. Martino, 57037 Portoferraio – Phone number: +39 3476434610

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Linguella is located in the ancient salt warehouses of the Medici fortress of Linguella. Inside are preserved and exhibited according to a topographical organization, Etruscan and Roman finds ranging from the eighth century. B.C. up to the fifth century AD, from all over the Tuscan Archipelago which certify the great importance of Elba and the other islands in the commercial trade of the Mediterranean. Amphorae, vases, weapons and tools from marine wrecks, necropolises and idle villas, all of which tell us about a centuries-old commercial and cultural history that you can read in the didactic-illustrative panels in the rooms of the museum.

Civic Archaeological Museum of Linguella – Piazzale della Linguella, 5, 57037 Portoferraio LI – Telephone number: +39 0565 944024

The Museo del Mare in Capoliveri tells the story of the misadventure of the steamship Polluce, which sank (along with all its treasures) off Capo Calvo in 1841. Although it is very small, it will make both adults and children a wonderful experience. It is an accurate and really interesting exhibition: gold and silver coins, jewels and remains of everyday objects accompanied by beautiful films showing the history of the Polluce and the recovery works. Inside, to entertain visitors, a “treasure hunt” is always organized, which is always very popular with everyone.

Museo de Mare, Via Palestro, 6, 57031 Capoliveri – Telephone number: +39 0565 967029

Going towards Monte Calamita, right above the Vallone di Capoliveri construction site, you will see the Museo della Vecchia Officina. Original furniture, period signs, tools, clothes, everything around you tells the story of those miners, their sacrifices and their fears. The rooms set up inside reproduce the typical environments of the mine, you can see the mechanical workshop, the work tools, the infirmary, the offices and the archive complete with documents, accident registers and ancient maps. The Museo della Vecchia Officina is an excellent starting point for the various trekking routes that wind along Mount Calamita, the wild beaches of that side and the guided visits to the underground mines and open-air construction sites.

Museo della Vecchia Officina, via Calamita, 57031 Capoliveri – Phone number +39 0565 935492

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Marciana was the first archaeological museum on the Island of Elba. Born in the late 1960s to give a safe place to prehistoric and protohistoric materials found on the island, today it has four rooms each with a specific theme: room number I houses the prehistoric and protohistoric section, room number II focuses on finds from Monte Castello in Procchio, room number III focuses attention on granite, an important mineral resource on the western side since ancient times, and finally room number IV houses the finds of the two Roman wrecks found in the bay of Procchio.

Civic Archaeological Museum of Marciana – via del Pretorio, 66, 57030 Marciana – Telephone number: +39 346 769 4260

MUM – Luigi Celleri Mineralogical Museum of San Piero stands in front of the ancient Romanesque church of San Niccolò, one step away from the Belvedere, the panoramic point par excellence of San Piero. On the ground floor you can see a small garden of curative and non-curative plants, the granite gallery and finally a small book shop where you can buy themed books. On the first floor are the archives and

MUM – Luigi Celleri Mineralogical Museum – Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 73, 57034 San Piero In Campo – Telephone number: +39 393 804 0990