 |
OTHER ISLANDS |
|
|
THE
PORTALS |
|
|
NEWSPAPERS&MAGAZINES |
|
|
USEFUL
LINKS |
|
|
USEFUL
SITES |
|
|
EDITORIAL
STAFF |
|
|
 |
| |
| |
|
Tuscan Archipelago >> ART and CULTURE
|
PRESENTATION
It is hard to find places like the Tuscan Archipelago
that offer crystal-clear water, a luxuriant nature and such
an important historical and artistic heritage. The Tuscan islands
have experienced invasions and dominations during the centuries
as they are located along the trade and military routes. Almost
all Mediterranean civilisations have left traces in the architecture,
the art and the traditions. |
From
the Prehistory to the Romans |
| From
the Middle Ages to the Medici Family |
| From
the Medici Family to Napoleon |
| From
Napoleon till Today |
Museums
Underwater
archaeology |
The traces from the Etruscan period are necropolises and the
remains of the antique ovens for the iron fusion, while the
Romans, following the Etruscan tradition, exploited the mineral
resources of the Archipelago, and built villas, thermal baths
and fortresses in order to protect themselves from the assaults
of the pirates. The Marine Republic of Pisa laid its hands on
the underground treasures during the Middle Ages. But apart
from exploiting the resources of the Archipelago, the Pisans
also built refined Romanesque churches, the impressive fortress
of Marciana and the mansion-house of Volterraio which guarded
the mountains and the seas. Portoferraio was built during the
period when the Medici family governed the island. It is a great
example of military urbanism and was called Cosmopoli to underscore
the perfect harmony between ground, water and buildings. The
San Giacomo fortress goes back to the Spanish domination, but
the person who left the biggest traces in the Elban architecture
is of course Napoleon Bonaparte. During his ten months on the
island, he built bridges and roads, he reorganised the mineral
economy and increased the production and export of wine. |
Photos from APT Tuscan Archipelago and Mediaweb srl.
|
|
 |
|
