When did Cosimo I de' Medici found the town now known as Portoferraio?
Cosimo I de' Medici founded the town in 1548 under the name Cosmopoli. He ordered three forts built to protect the new settlement on Elba.
Questions about Portoferraio
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Napoleon Bonaparte at Portoferraio in 1814?
Napoleon Bonaparte received Portoferraio as his seat of exile in 1814 following his defeat. This location became the first place where he was sent away from France.
How long did iron mining operations continue in Rio Marina and Portofarraio?
Mining activities continued until the 1970s when they finally ceased. The end of extraction caused severe economic suffering for local residents who lost their primary source of income.
Who liberated Portoferraio during World War II and when did this occur?
An Allied force composed mainly of Free French troops liberated the island in late June 1944. Fighting lasted two days before the town fell under French control on the 18th of June.
When did the Jewish community establish a synagogue in Portoferraio?
More than ten Jewish families lived on the island when the first synagogue opened between 1631 and 1632. Grand Duke orders forced all Jews to live on Via degli Ebrei by 1702.