Italian island of Elba marks 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s exile

Frances Cha, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 11:27 AM EDT, Tue May 6, 2014
The Italian island of Elba celebrates the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's exile to the island with a large-scale reenactment of the emperor's arrival.
Elba's Napoleon complex —
The Italian island of Elba celebrates the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's exile to the island with a large-scale reenactment of the emperor's arrival.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A ship modeled on the one that carried Napoleon to Elba was used in the reenactment at Portoferraio harbor on Elba.
Small emperor, tall ship —
A ship modeled on the one that carried Napoleon to Elba was used in the reenactment at Portoferraio harbor on Elba.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Did everyone get the funny hats memo? The arrival reenactment is hosted on Elba every year. In 2014 it is just one of a series of celebrations in honor of the bicentennial.
Heading for a new home —
Did everyone get the funny hats memo? The arrival reenactment is hosted on Elba every year. In 2014 it is just one of a series of celebrations in honor of the bicentennial.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Actors and Napoleon enthusiasts in full period costume await the arrival of the emperor on the island.
French revolution —
Actors and Napoleon enthusiasts in full period costume await the arrival of the emperor on the island.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
No one mention Waterloo. The new sovereign is greeted with cheers from the crowd and a cannon salute.
Napoleon's dynamite —
No one mention Waterloo. The new sovereign is greeted with cheers from the crowd and a cannon salute.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Napoleon is remembered fondly by the people of Elba. While his rule, like the man himself, was short, it had a large impact on the island's development.
Two hundred-year-old legacy —
Napoleon is remembered fondly by the people of Elba. While his rule, like the man himself, was short, it had a large impact on the island's development.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Villa dei Mulini was Napoleon's main residence in Portoferraio, and is now one of Elba's main attractions.
Napoleon's main residence —
The Villa dei Mulini was Napoleon's main residence in Portoferraio, and is now one of Elba's main attractions.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Upcoming events include a walking festival, the hosting of Napoleon's Regatta and an exhibition featuring Napoleon's field tent.
Steering towards more celebrations —
Upcoming events include a walking festival, the hosting of Napoleon's Regatta and an exhibition featuring Napoleon's field tent.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Tuscan island -- the third biggest in Italy -- came into the regional spotlight after Napoleon's famous exile.
Elba's rise to fame —
The Tuscan island -- the third biggest in Italy -- came into the regional spotlight after Napoleon's famous exile.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Napoleon left Elba after 300 days of exile and returned to lead France once more into battle.
France or bust —
Napoleon left Elba after 300 days of exile and returned to lead France once more into battle.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Elba Island reenacts Napoleon's exile

Story highlights

Tuscany's Elba Island is celebrating 200th anniversary of Napoleon's exile to Elba

Reenactment of emperor's arrival is one of many events for the bicentennial

The people of Elba remember Napoleon's legacy fondly

CNN  — 

It figures that the only person who couldn’t leave the Tuscan island of Elba fast enough is the one locals seems to love the most.

Italy’s third largest island celebrated the 200th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s arrival on Sunday.

Hundreds of Napoleon enthusiasts traveled to Elba to reenact the diminutive emperor’s arrival at the prow of a large row boat.

Dressed in period costume, they milled about the island awaiting the highlight of the day – when “Napoleon” himself finally showed up to the salute of cannons and cheers.

Happy 200th Mister Bonaparte

Elaborate reenactments are staged annually on the island, but have been ramped up for 2014 to mark Napoleon’s bicentennial on Elba.

The French emperor was exiled here following his forced abdication of the throne in 1814.

He ruled as the island’s sovereign for 300 days before escaping back to France.

10 things Italy does better than anywhere else

The people of Elba recall his legacy fondly – he’s credited with improving the lot of the islanders and locals still say Mass for him each May 5 at the island’s Chiesa della Misericordia (Church of Mercy).

Upcoming events for the bicentennial include the exhibition of a large field tent from which Napoleon directed military operations during his campaigns.

There’s also the Napoleon’s Regatta yacht race, which arrives in Portoferraio on June 13, and a walking festival visiting Napoleon-related sites on the island.

Roman holidays

Elba is a popular vacation island with Romans in particular and its most famous attractions are Napoleon’s former cribs.

The Villa dei Mulini was his primary pad on the island while the Villa Napoleonica di San Martino was his summer residence – apparently just the one summer though.

Both are now museums.

Portoferraio isn’t short of classy hotels, but the down-budget Albergo Ape Elbana might be more of interest given that it once received Napoleon’s guests.