Villa of San Martino

Villa San Martino has been Napoleon’s summer residence at Elba’s island, though the Emperour’s escape let the place inhabited.

Located in the countryside at 5 km from Portoferraio, it was Count Anatole Demidoff, husband of the niece of the Emperor, to give the building the appearance neoclassical that still distinguishes it today.

The Demidoff Gallery houses the collection of Napoleonic memorabilia of the count, including the famous sculpture by Antonio Canova 'Galatea', whose model of exception seems to have been Paolina Borghese, sister of the Emperor.

The Villa is well worth a visit even for the Egyptian Room and the Hall of Love Knot, with a fresco celebrating the marriage of Napoleon with Marie Louise of Austria.