| 03/10/2010 10:53 AM |
| Pasqua Offerta a 390 Euro per 6 Persone |
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Stone domes and mysterious menhir formations
Although Neanderthal man was Elba's firstbinhabitant, the island's most important settlements date back to the 3rd millennium B.C., the Copper Age. Burial sites, complete with funeral paraphernalia, decorated earthenware, flint arrow-heads and various copper objects, especially those used in combat, remain from this period; just as valuable to archaeologists are the Bronze Age Storerooms, caches dug into the ground, where comunities stored various objects, jewels, working tools and weapons.
More distinctive and clearly visible on the landscape are the so-called Caprili, used since prehistoric times and found, in particular, on Monte Capanne. These are circular or elliptical constructions, up to 13 meters wide, whit dry walls, covered whith branches or, more rarely, whith stone roofs consisting of concentric rings that become gradually narrower until they form a conical dome. Various menhirs can also be found on Monte Capanne: tall opright stones, some of which are arranged in mysterious formations.
On the invisible tracks of a silent people: the Etruscans
The Etruscans lived on the island for many centuries from the 7th century B.C., onwards, but, due to their custom of buildingcities out of clay, which "dissolved" over the years, little trace remains of them today. However, the necropolises which can still be found testify to the existence of their lost villages: settlements in Portoferraio, Monte Castello near Procchio, Volterraio and Castiglione di San Martino, near Portoferraio, were burned down by the Romans. There was a fortress on Monte di Santa Lucia, rebuilt by the Pisans, and a temple, possibly dedicated to Tinia, on Monte Serra, near Rio; a very valuable offering statue, now preserved in Naples, came from Le Trane. It is still possible to see signs of iron mining: the mineral-archaeological sites, now difficult to identify because they have been worn away by time or subsequent activities, and an island deforested in order to abtain the wood needed for smelting, that vegetation has finally won back.
THE ROMANS
The magnificent villas of the Patricians: the Romans and the art of living
The noble Roman patricians enjoyed discovering delightful places in which to build magnificent villas whit sea views. Because of its beauty, three such residences were built on the island of Elba, in ideal positions for admiring the panorama. Two of these villas face the sheltered bay of portoferraio: the Villa della Linguella, at the end of the Darsena, had its own private aqueduct and was decorated whit beautiful mosaic floors.
The Villa was enlarged several times between the 16th century military structures. The Villa delle Grotte, 1st century B.C., is very large and complex, whit gardens descending on various levels down to the sea, where the villa had its own private landing stage. Here it is possible to admire opus reticolatum walls and sections of mosaic. The swimming pool, whit its water heating structures, is still visible. A votive altar, dedicated to Hercules, preserved at the archeological museum in Portoferraio probably came from here.
The Villa di cavo, from the 1st-2nd century A.D., was built on the eastern side of the island on sloping terraces and had mosaic flooring. Part of the villa is contained within more recent constructions but it is still possible to see the old water pipeline connected to a nearby hill. In addition to iron, the Romans also exploited the quarries offering valuable granite which was used to build the Pantheon and the Colosseum. Around the quarries and near the landing stages, the remains of artifacts such as the colums at Seccheto and a smal ship at Cavoli, possibily fromthe Christian era, still testify to these activities.
Ancient ships beneath a veil of crystal
As a result of its strategic position on Mediterranean seafaring routes and its excellent berthing facilities, the island of Elba has always been a busy crossroads for maritime traffic, including the mythological Argonauts who, n their quest for the Golden Fleece, landed on the Ghiaie beach, situate on the nothern coast of the island.
In addition to the numerous discoveries which have been recovered from the sea and can be seen in the island's various museums, the seabed still contains the remains of a number of acient ships which, due to storms or pirate attacks, met their fate in these waters.
It is very exciting to dive down to admire the relics of these frail vassels, on which dogged sailors challenged the Gods and the elements: there is a 2600 year old Etruscan ship off the coast of Enfola; two Roman ships near Sant'Andrea, one with a load of amphorae of wine; a ship from the 1st century A.D., from Spain, which could have carried up to 7000 amphorae, near Chiessi; a Roman ship from 180 A.D., bearing a load of sulfur and amphorae, near Procchio; and another one at Punta Cera, with a shipload of wheat which was possibily shipwrecked at the end of the 3rd century A.D.
HERMITAGES AND SANCTUARIES
Precious receptacles of worship and prayer:
When Roman rule came to an end, the westyern part of the Mediterranean returned to its former insecurity; unless they were fortified, the cities along the coast were subjected to an increassing number of attacks. Even on the island of Elba, whole villages moved to the more mountainous areas which were more difficult to reach and lay siege to, and the number of inhabitants fell significantly. In the more isolated areas, small, even tiny communicaties of monks were created, including individual hermitages, called Romitori. These are often situated in places of great scenic beauty whre is possible to rediscover the peace and serenity experienced by these holy men. The oldest and most famous of these, the Romitorio di San Cerbone, to which the saint and bishop of Populonia withdrew in 572 to escape from the Lombards, was originally probably only a cave that was subsequently trasformed into a small church and hermitage. During the Counter-Reformation, between the 16th and 17th centuries, some of these places became sanctuaries dedicaded to the worship of the Madonna, whit very simple but distinctive structures.
The medieval sanctuary to the Madonna del Monte at Marciana, hidded within a cool chestnut wood, was realized between the 13th and 14th centuries, using large blocks of granite, and subsequently rebuilt in the 16th century. A 15th century Madonna, painted on granite, is preserved here, whilst some of the figures depicted on the apse are attributed to Il Sodoma (originally Giovanni Antonio Bazzi). The sanctuary has a 20th century eclectic style crenellated bell tower and small sanctuaries devoted to the Stations of the Cross can be found along the road leading to the main building. Napoleon briefly stayed in the adjacent hermitage, which was also visited by St. Paolo della Croce.
Legend has it that the 16th century sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie at Capoliveri, whit its Latin cross plan and scaly covered dome with oriental elements on the belfry spire, was inhabited by ancient hermits, the followers St. Mamiliano, who moved to the island of Montecritso after the 5th century.
The sanctuaryof the Madonna della Neve at Lacona, built in the 16th century on top of a previous Romanesque structure, was altered several times between the 17th and 20th centuries. The governor of Longone, Jose' Pons y Leon, had the sanctuary of the Madonna del Monserrato, with its simple plastered dome, built in 1606 to evoke the sanctuary on the mountain of Montserrat Catalonia. Inside the sanctuary is a Black Madonna, similar to the one in Spain. The small church s opened every year on 8th September and 8th April. The sanctuary of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, in Rio nell'Elba, which probably dates back to the 16th century, was also used as a hermitage, and is now a center for European artists and has a botanical garden.
Isola d'Elba Storia