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ELBA & SAINT HELENA ISLAND
NAPOLEON IN EXILE
including the Palazzina dei Mulini in Porto- busy port. Still, he hired an architect and
ferraio and his countryside retreat, Villa decorator to fashion interiors in the style
Martino, which was our main destination. of the day, with elaborate painted frescos.
Departing our tour bus, we climbed a rocky The most striking space was the Egyp-
road, where the villa came into view tian Room, a testament to Napoleon's fas-
through a tall, rusted iron gate topped with cination with ancient Egypt and his desire
rusted eagles. Modest and boxy, it was far to commemorate his military campaigns
from regal, but, as we learned, it was in- there. The walls are adorned with hiero-
tended as a simple retreat, away from the glyphics, pyramids, and battle scenes.In
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