Linguella Archaeological Area

The military architectural order, designed and built by the finest engineers of Cosimo I de’ Medici, gives Portoferraio its timeless character. The city was developed around its harbour, which was protected like a stronghold by powerful fortifications. The defensive triangle envisioned by Cosimo I included Forte Falcone, Forte Stella, and La Linguella—named for its narrow strip of land.

La Linguella showcases a superb example of military architecture applied to harbour defence: the Tower, known as the Torre del Martello (Hammer Tower) for its shape, or Passanante Tower, after the anarchist who attempted to assassinate King Umberto I and was imprisoned here in 1886. Heavily damaged during World War bombings, this historical area was later restored, and excavations uncovered parts of a Roman villa dating from the mid-1st century BCE to the late 3rd century CE. Its remains, including foundations and flooring, can be admired today at the foot of the Tower—testimony to the city’s ancient origins.

Various challenges have prevented more in-depth archaeological investigations: the construction of Medici fortifications altered much of the ancient stratigraphy. The earliest documentation of the site dates to 1548, mostly from correspondence between the Grand Duke and those overseeing the construction. Another obstacle to studying the villa’s oldest layers is the bradyseism phenomenon, which has raised the sea level by about one metre since Roman times.