Portoferraio
Portoferraio
Portuferraiu (Tuscan) | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Portoferraio | |
 Panorama of Portoferraio | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Portoferraio  | |
UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code | 57037 |
| Dialing code | 0565 |
| Patron saint | St. Cristinus |
| Saint day | 29 April |
| Website | Official website |
Portoferraio (Italian pronunciation:
History
It was founded by
The name evolved from Ferraia with etruscan,[4] Fabricia with Romans and Ferraio with Grand Duchy of Tuscany.[5]
The city remained attached to the
During
Portoferraio's economy suffered from the end of mining activities starting from the 1970s, but in the following decades, it gained status as an internationally renowned seaside destination.
Population
The Jewish community
The first Jews arrived in Portoferraio at the beginning of the 17th century following the publication of the edict of 1556 in which Cosimo I de' Medici granted special privileges to all those who settled in Cosmopoli. In 1593, Ferdinando I de' Medici issued letters patent, called La Livornina, by which more privileges were granted to foreign merchants, Jews in particular, who were willing to settle in the new free ports on Elba and in Leghorn.[6]
The first synagogue was built in 1631–1632 when there were barely over ten Jewish families living on the island. At the beginning of the 18th century the Jewish community numbered more than 50 people.[7]
In 1702, by order of the Grand Duke, the Jews of Portoferraio were required to live on a designated street, Via degli Ebrei or Street of the Hebrews (now called via Elbano Gasperi) which constituted a small ghetto which they were not allowed to leave after 1 o’clock in the morning. At about this time, Abraham Pardo, son of Isaac, was forbidden to build a new synagogue near the church. He was forced to build it in a garden behind his home, below Fort Stella. All Jewish rituals were celebrated in the synagogue and were attended by Jews from Piombino, Maremme and the rest of the island of Elba. The ecclesiastical authorities sought to isolate the Jewish community by preventing Christians from having any contact with the Jewish community. There were restrictions on all workers and in particular on wet nurses who had to apply for special dispensations from the Vicar Forane.[8]
In 1765, authorization was granted to build a wall around a field designated for use as a Jewish cemetery. The field was situated over the Ponticello ditch, behind Ghiaie beach on the site of the present-day Hotel Villa Ombrosa. The wall with its central door is still visible. Until 1954, there was an inscription on the door which read: Cimitero Israelitico. In 1964, the remaining tombs, about 40 of them, with their inscriptions in Hebrew and Spanish and dating from 1646 to the end of the 19th century, were transferred to the new Jewish cemetery in Livorno. The ground was deconsecrated and sold by the Jewish community to a neighbor. It is now the garden of the villa behind it.[9]
In 1826, the Governor, at the request of the heads of 10 Jewish families, drew up a set of rules for the Jewish community. The rules were approved by the Grand Duke, Leopold II who nominated two massari ("bailiffs") to represent the community.
In the second half of the 18th century, the Jewish community declined in number due to the worsening of economic conditions on the island. Peace had been signed with the Ottoman Empire resulting in a reduction of military garrisons and the suppression of the “compagnia urbana” made up of 180 men.[10]
At the beginning of the 20th century, the construction of a steel mill attracted new Jewish families to the island. However, due to the anti-Jewish laws and persecutions, these families left the island. Alfonso Preziosi, in his book, cited above, wrote “generally, the Jews found the island of Elba to be an oasis of peace thanks to the privileges granted by the Medici and the Lorraine which allowed them to develop their trade with Eastern ports.” [11]
Main sights
The town center is crowded around the small marina lying in a natural cove.
Main points of interest include:
- Forte Stella
- Forte Falcone
- Forte Inglese
- Archeological museum
- Napoleon's house
Portoferraio lighthouse
The
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Istat
- ^ Role, R.E., Fort 2008 (Fortress Study Group), (36), pp108-129
- ^ Silvestre Ferruzzi, Pedemonte e Montemarsale, Pontedera 2013.
- Tommaso Porcacchiet alii.
- ^ Cecil Roth, Notes sur les marranes de Livourne, Paris, 1931
- ^ Alfonso Preziosi, Fermenti patriottici, religiosi e sociali all'isola d'Elba (182–1921), Olschki,1976, La Comunità israelitica di Portoferraio, p. 135
- ^ Alfonso Preziosi, Fermenti patriottici, religiosi e sociali all'isola d'Elba (1821–1921), Olschki, 1976, La Comunità israelitica di Portoferraio, pag. 140
- ^ Information given by the Jewish Livorno Community and by the owner of the villa
- ^ Alfonso Preziosi, Fermenti patriottici, religiosi e sociali all'isola d'Elba (1821–1921), Olschki, 1976, La comunità israelitica di Portoferraio, p. 145
- ^ Alfonso Preziosi, Fermenti patriottici, religiosi e sociali all'isola d'Elba (1821–1921), Olschki, 1976, La comunità israelitica di Portoferraio, p. 147
- ^ Portoferraio lighthouse Marina Militare
External links
| National | |
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| Geographic | |
