Forte Teglia stands on the island of Pianosa, commanding a view between the ancient Porto Vecchio and the modern harbour, and is one of the island’s most significant defensive structures. Together with the Palazzo della Specola and the ancient crenellated walls, the fort formed part of the defence system for Pianosa’s harbour, a strategic point in the Tyrrhenian Sea long contested between the French and the British.

The construction of the complex was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic period, based on a design by the engineer Ponticelli. The aim was to strengthen military control of the island through a ‘bomb-proof’ structure, capable of housing soldiers and artillery intended for coastal defence. However, Napoleon’s sudden departure from Elba in 1815 left part of the work unfinished; it was subsequently completed by the Grand Ducal government during the Restoration.

The fort has a distinctive rectangular layout consisting of several interconnected buildings arranged on staggered levels. The oldest part is the northern section, now partly lost, which faces directly out to sea. Here there is a panoramic parapet on which a statue of the Virgin Mary was placed in 1986 by Mother Teresa of Calcutta during her visit to the prison on Pianosa.

The central section of the complex dates back to the 19th-century Grand Ducal era, whilst the western wing was added in the early 20th century, featuring a striking semi-circular curtain wall at the foot of which lies a small ornamental garden with succulents, a fountain and an ancient anchor.

From an architectural point of view, Forte Teglia stands out for its charming eclectic style with clear Neo-Romanesque influences. The façades feature elegant mullioned windows with central columns and pointed arches surmounted by semicircular arches, whilst along the upper sections there are battlements supported by blind round arches. At the corners of the structure, striking turrets also emerge, contributing to the complex’s even more spectacular appearance.

Today, Forte Teglia stands as one of the most fascinating historical landmarks on the island of Pianosa, recounting centuries of military, strategic and prison history set against the extraordinary natural landscape of the Tuscan Archipelago.