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APULIA:
ISOLE TREMITI
THE ARCHIPELAGO
It is a group of volcanic islands, whose name
was "Diomedee" in honour
of Diomede, the Greek hero who, according to
a legend, would have died there on his way back
after the Troy war.
They are 22 Km northwards from the Gargano coast.
They are made up of:
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Saint Domino;
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Capraia;
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Saint Nicola;
- Cretaccio;
and Pianosa Island, which is
about 24 Km far from the Tremiti Islands; it is
11,4 ha wide, its coast is 1,700 Km long, there
is no vegetation on the island and it is uninhabited.
An Historical Outline
During the Middle Ages the Tremiti Islands belonged
to the Abbey which was built by Benedictines from
Montecassino on Saint Nicola Island. In 1792 Federico
IV from Neaples made them the seat of a penal
settlement, where groups of Neapolitan prisoners
were deported (the present dialect comes from
them). The islands were a place of internment
for common criminals and politic convicts until
the year 1943. |
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(Grotta del bue marino)
photo by isoletremiti.it - isole Tremiti |
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Saint Domino Island was labelled as "the
paradise orchard" by the Benedictine
monks because of its richness in many-coloured
flowers. In the middle of the island you
can visit the village whereas in its highest
side you can see the Hermit's Chapel (Cappella
dell'Eremita). A wide pinewood extends on
the whole island. The sea is very clean.
Along its coast you can visit several caves
such as Salt Cave (Grotta del Sale), Violets
Cave (Grotta delle Viole) and Dugong Cave
(Grotta del Bue Marino), which is near the
lighthouse and is about 70 mt deep.
The island is 207 ha wide, 2,600 Km long
and 116 mt high. |
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(Torre del Pennello)
photo by isoletremiti.it - isole Tremiti |
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Saint Nicola Island is the most interesting
island as far as art is concerned. In fact,
a XV-century castle surrounded by boundary
walls stands on the island. On the highest
side you can visit St Maria al Mare Church
and its annexed Abbey.
The island is rocky, it drops straight to
the sandy small beach where the village
lies between two rows of trees. There is
also a small pinewood. The island is 42
ha wide, 1,600 Km long and 75 mt high. |
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Between Saint Domino Island and Saint Nicola Island you
can see Cretaccio Islet,
which is yellow because of its clayey origin.
It is disappearing because of the continuous
erosion by the weather and the sea. It is
3,5 ha wide and 30 mt high. You can see
the Old Woman Rock (Scoglio
della Vecchia).
Behind Saint Nicola Island you can see Caprara
Island, uninhabited but as interesting
as the other islands. It is 45 ha wide,
1600 Km long and 600 mt wide. |
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