A new step towards promoting Napoleon’s heritage
On 19 June 2026, the National Museums of the Napoleonic Residences on Elba will officially open the restored gardens of the Palazzina dei Mulini and Villa San Martino in Portoferraio. This reopening marks the culmination of a major restoration programme funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), aimed at preserving and enhancing one of the most iconic heritage sites of the Napoleonic legacy in Europe.
Rediscovered historic gardens
The gardens of the Palazzina dei Mulini held a special place in Napoleon’s daily life. Overlooking the sea and the Medici fortifications of Portoferraio, they served as a place for strolling, entertaining and relaxation. Historical accounts describe a lush garden where citrus trees, ornamental plants and Mediterranean species—introduced notably by Princess Pauline Bonaparte—thrived.
The restoration project has restored these areas to their historical and landscape integrity, whilst improving the visitor experience. This project forms part of a wider strategy to showcase the Napoleonic residences on the Island of Elba, which constitute one of the major sites within the Destination Napoleon network.
Contemporary art and the Napoleonic legacy
The opening is also an opportunity to explore the new travelling exhibition «50 Years of Creation» dedicated to the Tuscan sculptor Andrea Roggi.
Internationally renowned for his monumental «Trees of Life», Andrea Roggi has spent the last fifty years developing a body of work that blends nature, memory, a sense of belonging and the force of life. His sculptures are now on display in numerous European cities, and several of his recent projects have been highly successful in France, Italy and internationally.
In Portoferraio, this exhibition takes place across several of the island’s iconic venues, including the Palazzina dei Mulini and Villa San Martino, creating a unique dialogue between historical heritage and contemporary art.
A major institutional event
The press conference and opening ceremony will be attended by a number of prominent figures from the Italian cultural and heritage sectors, including:
- Carlotta Paola Brovadan, Regional Director of the National Museums of Tuscany; ;
- Tiziano Nocentini, Mayor of Portoferraio; ;
- Andrea Camilli, Director of the National Museums of the Napoleonic Residences; ;
- Luca Gulli, head of the restoration project; ;
- the firm Bellesi Giuntoli, responsible for the landscape design; ;
- Andrea Roggi, guest artist.
This ceremony demonstrates the importance that Italian institutions attach to the preservation and transmission of the Napoleonic heritage, whilst encouraging its adaptation to new forms of artistic expression.
Portoferraio, the Napoleonic capital of Elba
Two centuries after Napoleon’s time on the island, Portoferraio remains one of the most iconic locations in his European history. With the Palazzina dei Mulini, Villa San Martino, the historic fortifications and the Mediterranean landscapes that marked the Emperor’s exile, the Island of Elba continues to attract thousands of visitors every year who are passionate about history and culture.
The opening of the restored gardens thus marks a new step in the promotion of this exceptional heritage and confirms the central role of Elba within the European cultural route ‘Destination Napoleon’.
Practical information
Inauguration of the restored gardens at the Napoleonic Residences
- 📅 Friday 19 June 2026
- 🕚 11h30
- 📍 Palazzina dei Mulini
- Piazzale Napoleone, 1
- Portoferraio
Programme
- Official press conference
- Opening of the restored gardens
- Introduction to the exhibition «50 Years of Creation» by Andrea Roggi
- A visit to Villa San Martino
- Closing drinks reception
Learn more
Restoration of the historic gardens of the Napoleonic Residences on Elba (Studio Bellesi Giuntoli): https://www.studiobellesi.com/portfolio/giardini-storici/restauro-dei-giardini-delle-ville-napoleoniche/
Information and registration
📧 drm-tos.villenapoleoniche@cultura.gov.it