Borgo storico di Capoliveri

Capoliveri is a hilltop village on Monte Calamita, with a medieval network of narrow lanes known locally as chiassi. Its churches, open-air artworks and mining history reflect the different communities that shaped the town.

Why it matters

Capoliveri's historic centre preserves a compact village form above the gulfs of Lacona and Portoferraio. The nearby iron mines of Monte Calamita were central to the area's modern economy and are now represented in the Museo della Vecchia Officina.

What to notice

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta has a medieval plan and an inscription recording restoration work in 1830. The seventeenth-century church of San Gaetano stands on Piazza Garibaldi. Contemporary works in the Borgo degli Artisti include sculptures by Kurt Mergenthal, Michelangelo Venturini and Italo Bolano.

Context and history

The name Capoliveri is sometimes linked to the Latin Caput Liberum, though its origin is uncertain. The village's historic districts include il Fosso, la Torre, la Fortezza and il Baluardo. Local celebrations preserve traditions including the Festa dell'Innamorata, held on 14 July, and the autumn Grape Festival.