Elba, Napoleon, couldn’t escape if he wanted to!

It is always exciting when you visit a port for the first time, and Elba was one of the few we have on this trip…

What makes Elba famous around the world, is that it is where French Emperor, Napoleon spent his time during his 1814 exile.  Well, I can think of the worst places to be.  Elba is part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago.

Connected to mainland Italy by a bridge, this island is a popular holiday spot for many Italians.  They obviously choose Elba for its extraordinary landscape and beautiful crystal-clear blue waters that surround it.

We anchored just off the port of Portoferraio and it was just a short tender ride into the little harbour.

Beautiful views as we sail in

Small tower at the entrance of the harbour

Like most Italian villages you enter the town through massive gates that form part of the wall that protected it in earlier times.

Entrance to the town

Gates from the inside.

On entering our first stop was the Duomo, a simple design both inside and out, missing the grand ornate walls of the much richer churches.

We followed the stairs and back alleys that led us up to Fort Stella… a little misled in believing that it opened and 9am and many of us had gathered waiting until 10 am before we could get in.

My friend Gerome and his wife heading up to the lookout

Always a pretty view around each corner

whilst waiting for Fort Stella to open we watch a turtle move in and out of his hidy hole for entertainment

our view while we waited

The fort area seems to be made up of different types of accommodation, some looked like they were holiday rentals while others looked well lived in.  The small entrance fee allowed you into the grounds in order to get the elevated views of the harbour and a close-up of lighthouse we could see as we sailed in that morning.

Entrance to Port Stella

View from the forts terrace

View looking back into the gardens of Nepoleons Summer home.

The Light house

Next door was the Villa Dei Mulini, the summer residence of Napolean during his time on the island.  Unfortunately, it is closed on a Tuesday, not one of their cleverest moves on a ship day, as it lost a lot of income as many of us from the Coral Princess walked on by.

If only we had our swimmers, the ocean looked so inviting, as we looked down towards the beach of Spiaggia.  The walk down may not have been too bad.  But the trek back up was not an enticing option.

Heading across we seemed to skirt the town from above and next we walked up to even greater heights to Fort Falcone, we decided not to enter, but enjoyed the spectacular views from its entrance.

Fort Falcone up on the hill

view from the Fort

Weaving our way back down through the many lanes until we were back down near the entrance to where we entered.  Having lost a couple from our group along the way, we stopped in one position and sent out a May Day… once we were all reunited, we went out for a walk along the water front.

one last church before reaching the bottom

Waiting for the boys to find us

we are all reunited

Stumbling into a small restaurant we decided to enjoy a seafood lunch before heading back to the ship.

confiscated lemoncello!!

Civitavecchia, Heading for the hills! Again.

 It was going to be another really hot day in Italy today, but it is all of Europe that seems to be experiencing this current heatwave.

It was a lovely drive through picturesque Tuscany as we drove to our first village for the day Sovana.

A simple one-street town, but with a lot of character.  Once around the block and you have seen the whole village.  Starting in the main square, every doorway is picture-perfect.

Considering the weather has been so hot.. the flowers were lovely

Buying my favorite picci pasta...

Walk up one side of the block and it will lead you to the Sovana Cathedral.

Follow the path back and take in the beautiful vistas of the countryside.

Back in the square we visited the smaller, simpler Church of Santa Maria filled with lovely frescos.

Moving on from Sovana we visited the walled city of Pitigliano, a larger but still curious hilltop village.  After entering the gates we explored this lovely town of crumbling buildings, lovely small shops, and interesting medieval laneways.

Entrance into Pitigliano

Had to buy more pasta at this store as it was so cheap....

Amazing aquaduct as you walk into town

  If we weren’t photographing these alleys, we were photographing many more interesting doors.

more lovely churches at this village

After exploring and helping the economy in Pitigliano, our driver took us to a lovely family restaurant for lunch.  The food was delicious and plentiful and a great representation of the produce all sourced from the area. 

Capped off with a tasting of their delicious liqueurs, including Limoncello.

Full and content it was time for that quiet drive back to the ship, ZZzzzzzzzz.

Update... I was asked by someone for the details of this tour...  here is a link

Pitigliano and Maremma - Excursion from Civitavecchia | DGT (discoveryguidedtours.com)