Porto Azzurro, Elba Island, characteristic fishing port, thanks for a like and subscribe

A fishing village of ancient origins, Porto Azzurro owes its name to a choice made in 1947 by the municipal administration which decided to give the town a more touristy name. In fact, it was once called Portolongone, a name given to it in 1603 by Philip III of Spain who intended to make it a sort of fortification to defend the territory.
Focal center of the city and its worldliness, Piazza Matteotti is one of the largest and most beautiful squares on the island.

Walking through the narrow alleys and intricate streets of the historic center, you are immediately attracted by majestic buildings, testimony to the ancient past of the village. Among the most famous, we must first mention Fort San Giacomo, an imposing fortification whose construction was commissioned by Philip III in 1602. The building was erected to fortify the protective network of the territory as studied by Don Garcia of Toledo, on the model existing in the city of Antwerp, to cope with the continuous attacks of Saracen pirates; the fort in fact had an important function of sighting and protection, a "task" which it maintained until the early nineteenth century, when it was decommissioned and transformed into a prison.

If the fort catches the attention thanks to its majesty, the religious buildings attract with their grace; among the most interesting of Porto Azzurro we must remember the Church of the Madonna del Carmine and the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore.

Not far from Porto Azzurro, built on a rock spur reachable on foot, is the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monserrato, built in 1606 at the behest of the Spanish governor Pons Y Leòn who wanted to reproduce on Elba the famous sanctuary built near Barcelona .

The most comfortable beach closest to the center of Porto Azzurro is La Pianotta, characterized by a crystal clear sea, fine gravel and large rocks. Not far away are the beaches of Barbarossa, Reale and the very particular Terranera.

From Porto Azzurro it is also possible to go on a boat excursion, visiting hidden coves and snorkeling and diving in the magnificent seabed of the island.

In summer the town offers long and fun nights of entertainment and many events and events organized to make the evenings even more pleasant.