Napoleonic Week
Five days of historical re-enactments, pageants, and Napoleonic heritage in Portoferraio, Elba Island.
About Napoleonic Week
Portoferraio and the memory of Napoleon
In Portoferraio, the main town on Elba Island in the province of Livorno, history is not just a textbook chapter; it is a living legacy that returns to fill the streets every spring. The Napoleonic Week commemorates the months Napoleon Bonaparte spent on the island, from May 1814 to February 1815, following the Treaty of Fontainebleau that relegated him to sovereign of the small Elban principality. During those few months, the Emperor left a profound mark by reorganizing the administration, fortifications, and civic life—a chapter that Portoferraio has never forgotten.
Five days of re-enactment
The event spans five days, from May 1st to 5th, involving the entire city with a program that alternates between educational and spectacular moments. It begins with guided tours of the Medici Fortresses, the imposing defensive structures overlooking the harbor, and continues with historical lectures, narrated walks with costumed figures, reconstructed military camps, and processions that wind through the historic center to the Cathedral.
The associations at the heart of the event
The core of the Napoleonic Week lies in the local cultural associations and historical re-enactment groups. The Associazione Historiae manages the costumed processions and special openings, while the Petite Armée sets up the Napoleonic historical camp at the Linguella, featuring encampments and demonstrations of military life from the era. They are joined by Elban archives, parish groups, and numerous volunteers in a collective effort that serves as a way to pass down the island's identity.
Between history and theater
In recent years, the event has been enriched by a strong theatrical dimension, with evening performances at the Teatro dei Vigilanti "Renato Cioni" dedicated to the figure of the Emperor. The final day, May 5th—the anniversary of Napoleon's death on Saint Helena in 1821—is marked by the traditional memorial Mass at the Church of the Misericordia, which preserves precious Napoleonic memorabilia.
An opportunity to discover Elba
Participating in the Napoleonic Week also means visiting Portoferraio outside the beach season, when the Tuscan island reveals its most authentic face. Between the Fortresses, the Molo Elba, the Linguella district, and the Napoleonic residences, the event is an invitation to view the Elban landscape with fresh eyes, recognizing the traces of one of the most fascinating chapters in European history.
Napoleonic Week — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Napoleonic Week took place in Portoferraio from May 1st to 5th, confirming its status as one of the most cherished cultural events on Elba Island. Five days packed with initiatives retraced the city's bond with Napoleon Bonaparte, through costumed re-enactments, educational moments, and an international-caliber theatrical novelty.
The program blended the popular dimension of historical re-enactments with the scientific approach of conferences, involving the region's main associations: Associazione Historiae, Petite Armée, and the Gestione Associata Archivi Elbani. To cap off the week, on May 5th—the anniversary of the Emperor's death—the traditional memorial Mass was held, followed by the debut of the play "The Emperor's Ghost".
Programme Napoleonic Week 2026
May 1 — The Fortresses
- 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM — Guided tours of the Medici Fortresses. Ticket 8 euros, free for Portoferraio residents.
May 2 — Teatro dei Vigilanti
- 5:00 PM — Guided tour of the Teatro dei Vigilanti "Renato Cioni" and inauguration of the restored theater "Bureau", curated by Associazione Historiae, focusing on the Accademia dei Fortunati.
May 3 — Walk and historical camp
- 5:00 PM — Narrated historical walk with costumed figures, led by Alessandro Pastorelli and Paolo Fiorillo, starting from Molo Elba.
- Napoleonic historical camp open at the Linguella, curated by the Petite Armée.
May 4 — Conference and pageant
- 10:30 AM — Conference on the "Napoleonic Flag of the Three Bees", in the Palazzo della Biscotteria ceremony hall, curated by the Gestione Associata Archivi Elbani.
- 6:30 PM — Blank cannon shot from Molo Elba, followed by the Associazione Historiae historical pageant towards the Te Deum in the Cathedral.
May 5 — Commemoration and theater
- 10:30 AM — Memorial Mass at the Church of the Misericordia (Salita Napoleone), on the anniversary of the Emperor's death.
- 9:00 PM — "The Emperor's Ghost", premiere of the play written and directed by Franco Franchini for FOS-APS, at the Teatro dei Vigilanti. Free admission subject to availability.
Highlights Napoleonic Week 2026
- Premiere of the play "The Emperor's Ghost", in a bilingual Italian-French narrative, featuring Alessandro Cremona, Andrea Dolente, and Luca Di Martino.
- Petite Armée's Napoleonic historical camp at the Linguella.
- Historical pageant with a blank cannon shot from Molo Elba and Te Deum in the Cathedral.
- Guided tours of the Medici Fortresses.
Prices Napoleonic Week 2026
Practical information — Napoleonic Week
How to get there
Portoferraio is the main port of Elba Island. It can be reached by ferry from Piombino (Livorno) in about an hour; crossings are frequent and connect the island to the mainland year-round. Trains and motorway connections to the rest of Tuscany are available from Piombino.
Where it takes place
Events animate the historic center of Portoferraio: the Medici Fortresses, the Molo Elba, the Linguella district, the Cathedral, and the Teatro dei Vigilanti "Renato Cioni".
Admission
Many events are free. Guided tours of the Fortresses require a ticket (free for Portoferraio residents). Admission to theatrical performances is generally free subject to availability.
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Where does it take place — Napoleonic Week
Teatro dei Vigilanti "Renato Cioni"