During the various historical events that brought numerous bloody battles, resistance and conquests to Elba, the imposing Fort Longone, built by the Spaniards themselves in the previous century, was first occupied in 1646 by French troops and was later recaptured by the Spaniards. The town's agglomeration resided in the area below the Spanish fortress, called the "marina," optimal as a cargo port and shelter for ships. Its economy, partly due to the mild climate of the area, developed mainly in agriculture and fishing.
Meanwhile, the territory passed to the Kingdom of Naples (where it remained until 1801) when Napoleonic troops acquired it until the arrival of Napoleon himself who became "Sovereign of Elba Island." Following its fall (1815), the island of Elba passed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, until the Unification of Italy.
After World War II, the inhabitants of Portolongone asked and obtained in 1947 the possibility of changing the name of the town, which became Porto Azzurro. He has since begun a new story of living more independently from the "Spanish Fortress," which has since become a well-known prison house.
While living with the reality of the prison, Porto Azzurro began with the 1950s and 1960s to enhance its historical and natural treasures, thus boosting tourism in the area. Porto Azzurro thus becomes a favorite destination for thousands of Italian and foreign tourists.
