The Island of Elba is famous for having hosted Napoleon Bonaparte during his first exile, from May 1814 to February 1815. He lived on the island for only 10 months, but that was enough time to leave his mark on many places, such as the National Museum of Napoleon's Residences, which consists of the two residences where he lived: the Palazzina dei Mulini, perfectly located with a sea view, allowing him to monitor any incoming ships, and the Villa of San Martino, Napoleon's summer residence, located in the countryside about 5 km from Portoferraio. Here, the neoclassical Demidoff Gallery stands out, built by the Russian prince who married Matilde Bonaparte.

Other notable Napoleon-related sites include: the Church of Misericordia, where a mass in his memory is held every 5th of May; the Museum of Napoleonic Relics, which houses objects, garments, sacred vases, and furnishings; the Teatro dei Vigilanti, built under Napoleon's initiative; and the rock known as Napoleon's Chair, where the general would sit to admire Corsica.

However, the history of this island goes beyond the ten months of the French Emperor’s stay. It dates back to the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, as evidenced by the artifacts found in the Archaeological Museum of Marciana.

"History has decreed that the Island of Elba would be the stage for significant events: there is no Mediterranean civilization that has not left its mark. Nature, art, and millennia of culture, all enclosed in a 224 km² microcosm, create a unique atmosphere and evoke extraordinary landscapes, born from the encounters between different peoples."