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Isola
di GORGONA >> Presentation
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smallest and the most northern island of the Tuscan Archipelago
has a four-sided shape and is completely mountainous. Cala di
Scalo and Cala di Scirocco are the only inlets which permit
berthing and are located on the east part of the island. The
west part of Gorgona features steep rocks that precipice in
the water. Still today Gorgona hosts the penal settlement which
was established in 1869 and is part of the administrative jurisdiction
of the Ministry of Justice. The imprisonment on Gorgona is probably
the best thing that could happen to someone who has had problems
with the law as the "cells" are actually comfortable
apartments. The island hosts today 120 police officers and about
100 convicts, who restore old buildings, paths and roads and
are involved in the revitalisation of activities such as ship-farming
and handcraft. |
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The locals are fishermen who have not wanted to leave their
island and they live in a small village located above the Scalo
beach. Only a small number of visitors are allowed to visit
the prison-island and only the Cooperative Parco Naturale is
authorized to organise tourist visits, together with the agency
Lipu that organises naturalistic visits. Due to the prison you
have to go through some red tape before enjoying the marvels.
You have to inform the administrative department of the prison
at least 15 days before the visit and present your personal
data. At the arrival the police will take you to land. Once
on Gorgona you have to give your ID to the police that will
keep it until departure. You are not allowed to wear arms and
make photos and film sequences, use cell phones or other devices
for radio-transmissions. It is forbidden to meet prisoners and
to talk to them and you can not sell or buy anything from them.
2 guard will accompany you during your visit to see that you
do not break the rules. But it is worth to go through this Decalogue
of formalities in order to visit this island of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Here, thanks to the prisoners work, the original characteristics
are still preserved and Gorgona continues to show its wild and
virgin face. The only settlements that testify the island's
history are the Old Tower and the New Tower. The old Tower was
built by the Pisans around the 12th century and is situated
on the edge of a rock that precipices into the water at Costa
dei Cantoni. The New Tower goes back to the period of the Medici
family and was built in 1600 on the will of the Grand Duke of
Tuscany. It was a prison for a long time, but was then abandoned
and is now in decay. The Etruscans, the Romans and the first
Christian hermits almost certainly lived here, but there are
no traces left. Gorgona's treasure is the nature, which explodes
freely far from the damage caused by man. The Mediterranean
bush is luxuriant, but there are also pines and holm-oaks. The
soundings of Gorgona, where the habitat has not been altered,
are absolutely clear and feature a rich and varied fauna and
flora.
Photos from APT Tuscan Archipelago. |
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