NAPOLEON

Lilipans provides tailored tours in Italian cities with ties to the emperor, his charming sister, Paolina, and his influential family.

Italy houses 10 Museums dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France in the early 19th century and arch-commander of world affairs for over a decade. Lilipans provides tailored tours in Italian cities with ties to the emperor, his charming sister, Paolina, and his influential family. Inspired by the American Revolution, Napoleon won many battles on behalf of revolutionary France and became one of history’s most prominent leaders. He conquered most of Italy in 1799 and ruled Europe until 1815, changing the landscape and customs of the old continent in the name of a new Republic. His title as King of Italy echoes the fame of the ruler he greatly admired: Caesar, He adopted the Roman eagle as a symbol, just as the Romans had done centuries before. His Italian links were well-established: Napoleon’s family was actually more Italian than French, a fact that he boasted of. Their ancestral home was in San Miniato in Tuscany. The captivating story of Napoleon’s incredible life has gone down in history. A self-made man, he wielded such tremendous power that it took seven military coalitions helmed by Europe’s most influential leaders, to stop his advance. Napoleon came to power in a coup. He introduced a modern form of government, parts of which are still in use today. He established a series of ‘sister’ republics and set out new codes of law. The abolition of old feudal privileges gave birth to a democratic jurisprudence, responsive to the rights of the individual citizen. In the new Sisters’ Republics in Italy, Napoleon shaped and modernized residences for his family and descendants; though he was French, he did not forget his Italian roots. His Cisalpine Republic, with Milan as a new capital, became a wellspring of culture, science, and entertainment. No one could intimidate him, not even the Pope. Indeed he had a bitter falling out with the Pope. He survived two exiles and commanded a faithful army that adored him. Today Napoleon’s name is a legend and his legacy extends an influence on the Italian peninsula and Europe. There was only one time when the emperor lost his Italian nationality, for 15 months, when Corsica was purchased by France from the Italian city-state of Genoa. Getting acquainted with Napoleon offers a glimpse of the new chapter in history that he forged. The places that reflect his triumphant leadership are offered in our exciting and fascinating tours.