Forte Inglese (Portoferraio)

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This small fort on the hills of San Rocco away from the historical part of Portoferraio shows the English troops were on the Island in 1796, even if only for a short period.

Cosimo lll Grand Duke of Tuscany had Forte di San Giovanni Battista, as it was called then, built in 1700, but in 1728 Gian Gastone, the last of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, had it pulled down; he feared that had the island been attacked, it might have proven to be a strategic place for the enemy. www.infoelba.com/

Some decades later, in response to the French occupation of Livorno, the English landed in Portoferraio, and, just as the Grand Duke had foreseen, they settled in what remained of the fort, which from then onwards was called "English Fort".Even though the Grand Duke's sovereignty was still officially recognised, the four hundred men lead by Admiral Nelson, who is said to have set up his headquarters inside the fort, left the island only nine months later, and only after lengthy diplomatic negotiatons.

Now the English Fort is simply a local artists' refuge; inspired by the centuries old walls, by the colour of the sea and the sounds of the land, they meet up here to discuss their works and their own vision of history and life.