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Capo Sant’Andrea: a bit of history
PREHISTORIC TIMES
Once joined to the mainland, the island of Elba has traces of human life
dating back to the mid and upper Palaeolithic period. The civic museum
in Marciana has some stone artefacts made by these nomadic hunters, while
other items made from obsidian are proof of the presence of Neolithic
man, who already possessed tools for navigation. As early as 2,000 B.C.,
the island was already renowned for its natural metals, and the weapons
of the Homeric heroes may well have been forged from iron from Elba. There
were people in the late bronze age who were farmers, and there are still
traces of them in the dolmens and caves near Marciana.
THE ETRUSCANS AND THE “IRON FACTORY”
Sant’Andrea was especially renowned to the Etruscans due to its location,
sheltered from the wind off the sea, its fertile land and thriving vegetation.
The minerals extracted on the other side of the island were brought here
because of the abundance of wood to feed the furnaces which reduced haematite
to iron, and the remains from this ancient technique are still well visible
on the land which is now used to cultivate olive trees and vines. Chalcopyrite,
a precious mineral used to obtain sulphur, iron and copper, was also mined
here. Because this mineral has the colour and brightness of gold, people
from the area have always called it “Cava dell’Oro” (literally the Gold
Cove).
THE ROMANS
The Romans decided to end the use of the resources on Elba; from then
on, they only used minerals coming from the provinces of Spain and Austria,
and prohibited the lighting of fusion furnaces by law, mainly to protect
the area from the risk of deforestation. In the meantime, the citizens
of the Empire has begun to appreciate the island for its therapeutic mud,
its climate and its wine. The island also maintained its importance in
trade exchanges. There was a trade route used by the Roman galleys passed
through Sant’Andrea, as shown by the two wrecks of cargo ships, the amphorae
and ceramic remains of which can be seen in the museum in Portoferraio
and the small, but very interesting, archaeological museum in Marciana.
MEDIEVAL TIMES
Decadence followed, with the domination of the Lombards and, at the time
of the Maritime Republics, constant squabbles for domination between Pisa
and Genoa. The entire 12th century was a series of bloody naval battles
for control of the islands in the northern Tyrrhenian. A battalion of
Genoese soldiers attempted to land at Sant’Andrea, but it is said that
the local population ran en masse down to the beach, forcing their assailants
to return to sea in a hurry. However, some Genoese must have managed to
get share and remain there. How else can the curious similarities between
some recipes from Elba (and Sant’Andrea in particular) and those from
Liguria be explained? For example egg soup, a poor but nourishing dish
based on crackers, garlic, oil, eggs and marjoram.
The dominance of Pisa has left visible signs on this side of Elba: the
Fortress of Marciana (which was expanded in the 14th century by the Appiani
family) and the village of Marciana itself, which is one of the few medieval
hamlets in the area, with the nearby village of Poggio.
MODERN TIMES
In later centuries. Capo Sant’Andrea was somewhat isolated from the different
dominations by the Medici, the Spanish and by Napoleon, maintaining its
traditions of fishing and mountain life. In recent times, the modern phenomenon
of tourism has made this rather secret and unspoilt part of the island
renowned, and modern day visitors still recognise a world that has kept
its ancient fascination intact, by the warm and friendly welcome they
receive here.
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