Elba Island: Is there any better place to be exiled to?!

As part of your camping holiday in Italy, why not spend some time on the beautiful Elba Island, known all over the world not only for its stunning scenery but also for its strong connection with the famous French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Elba is a place where tourists, and indeed many Italians go to relax and unwind. It's no wonder therefore, that this island, with its naturally spectacular terrain, dramatic coastline and numerous sandy beaches is the place that Napoleon chose to be exiled to, following his forced abdication in 1814.

Napoleon was deemed to be the 'sole obstacle to restoration of peace in Europe', and thus, off to Elba he went. Famous for harbouring this historic figure, the island has become the perfect place to view a little bit of Napoleonic history, set in beautiful surroundings. When Napoleon arrived on Elba Island, he didn't come alone, and he wasn't set to live in discomfort, not by a long shot. Bringing with him several hundered personal guards, he settled in and decided to not waste his time simply viewing the incredible scenery (even though he did a lot of that too!). He was given the title of 'Emperor of Elba', and with it came ownership and soverignty of the island.

Napoleon set up a government, established a road network and organised many theatre performances and concerts. He did this not only to pass the time, but also to ensure the well being of the residents of Elba. Even though he spent only 300 days on the island, many signs of Napoleon and his stay on Elba still remain, such as Napoleon's fountain at Poggio, Spiaggia Poaline (the beach named after his sister) and 'Casa Vantini', the place where his mother stayed when she was on the island. 100 yards further on from this house, you'll come across the Church of Forgiveness, which holds a service every year on the 5th of May, to commemorate Napoleon's death.

Napoleon himself had two sumptuous residences on Elba Island. The Palazzina dei Mulini was Napoleon's main home, built with all the necessary home comforts and with spectacular views from the gardens and library. His summer residence, also with incredible views, was at the Villa San Martino, which has now become a gallery and museum housing many artifacts. Both of these locations are open to the public and are definitely worth the visit.

During your camping holiday in Tuscany, make sure you sample the real delights of this fantastic island, by discovering its enthralling past. You can see for yourself how Napoleon couldn't have chosen a better place to spend his exile!

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