Portoferraio, Elba, Italy

Cruise to a Mediterranean island of Napoleonic treasures

Napoleon was once exiled to the island of Elba along with an escort of 1,000 men, household staff, and the insulting title of Emperor of Elba. What a horrible punishment, right?

But thanks to Napoleon’s little time-out here, the island enjoyed a golden age in the 1800s, when it was recognized as a prime location for the iron mills that brought prosperity to the area. You can learn all about the island’s history at the Archaeological Civic Museum. (And you can even embark on a Cruise Global, Connect Local^SM shore excursion of Elba that stops at Villa San Martino, the very residence where Napoleon spent his 10 miserable months of exile.)

Climb to the top of Medici Fortress, which was built in 1474, and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the sea and the town below. Or take an open cable car to the peak of Mount Capanne for even more breathtaking views of the entire island, the Tuscan Archipelago, and the Mediterranean Sea. You can also enjoy performances in Vigilanti Theatre, an ancient church converted into a theatre by Napoleon’s sister Paolina Bonaparte.

One thing is for sure: When you arrive in Portoferraio, you won’t understand why Napoleon ever wanted to leave.