- Cavallo (island)
Cavallo is a small
island in theMediterranean Sea located betweenCorsica andSardinia .Geography
Cavallo is located in, and is the only inhabited island of, the Lavezzi Archipelago. Close to the
Strait of Bonifacio , Cavallo is eight miles away from Sardinia and two miles away from Sperone, a town on the southern side of Corsica. The island is currently French territory, although it has belonged toItaly in the past. [http://www.unitn.it/events/borderscapes/download/abstract/picouet_paper.pdf] The Island is about a half-mile long, and features a small port.History
Cavallo has a long history, beginning when
Ancient Rome sentprison ers there to cutgranite formonument s. The island was abandoned duringAugustus ’ empire, and remained uninhabited until a sheep and goat-herder located there in 1800. The deep sea surrounding the island hid dangerous obstacles for navigators, earning the island thenickname “The Cursed Siren.” In 1855, the French frigate "Semillante", which was transporting soldiers toCrimea , sank nearby, killing all 693 on board. In 1978, Cavallo made international news when it was the scene of a shooting committed by Vittorio Emanuele, theexile dking of Italy .Tourism
Cavallo is privately owned, but does allow limited access to outsiders. Known for
golfing andsailing , there is also a commercial area with restaurants and shops, along with the luxury "Hotel & Spa des Pêcheursand". Onlybicycle s andelectric car s are allowed on the island.References
External links
* [http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/France/photo404961.htm Photo of island]
* [http://directory.premierhotels.com/client/Premier2/bg1/listingmain.asp?l=%7BE7B10BFC-E2AC-4612-A67A-35860ACABE1C%7D Hotel Web Site]
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