Carloforte

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Carloforte-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Carloforte
name = Carloforte
region = Sardinia
province = Carbonia-Iglesias (CI)
elevation_m = 10
area_total_km2 = 50.24
population_as_of = Dec. 2004All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.]
population_total = 6488
population_density_km2 = 128.26
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|39|9|N|8|18|E|type:city(6,488)_region:IT
frazioni =
telephone = 0781
postalcode = 09014
gentilic = Carlofortini or Tabarkini
saint = St. Charles Borromeo
day = November 4
mayor =
website = [http://www.comune.carloforte.ca.it/ www.comune.carloforte.ca.it]
mapy = 8.3
mapx = 39.150

Carloforte is a fishing and resort town of located on Isola di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Island), approximately 7 km off the South Western Coast of Sardinia, Italy.

Carloforte was founded in the 18th century by some 30 families of coral fishers, originally from Pegli, near Genova, Liguria. They had left their home town and had settled in the island of Tabarka, off the coast of Tunisia, to fish for coral. After a century or so, the coral in that area was exhausted and so the families set off back to Italy and found there was plenty of coral in the sea off the west coast of Sardinia. They asked the King of Sardinia Charles Emmanuel III for permission to settle on San Pietro Island. When he granted them permission, the name Carloforte (Charles' Fort) was given to the town they established there, in honour of the king. To this day Carloforte maintains strong cultural ties with the town of Pegli. The population still speaks a variant of Genoese dialect called "Tabarchino".The very early history of the town - and of San Pietro Island - may be linked to the so-called Children's Crusade of 1212. A local church (Chiesa dei Novelli Innocenti) whose foundations date back to the early 14th century was apparently built in honour of hundreds of children-crusaders who may have perished in a shipwreck just off the island on their way to North Africa during a gale. In truth, historical evidence of this event is actually scant and would need to be researched further. The church is called Chiesa dei Novelli Innocenti and is located within the town perimeter.

Modern-day Carloforte's principal sources of revenue are fishing, tourism, and remittances from the many merchant mariners around the world who hail from Carloforte. Frequent (hourly) ferry services connect the recently expended port of Carloforte with the Sardinian mainland at Portovesme as well as Calasetta, a similar fishing port on Sant'Antioco Island.

To the North of the town (at the La Punta locale) is a former tuna-processing plant linked to the once-vibrant tuna fishing tonnare industry on the island. The buildings are undergoing renovation to some extent and may possibly be used to house a museum dedicated to the industry. Some of the buildings are in ruin, but remain of great architectural interest.

Excellent beaches, both rocky and sandy, line the coast of the island. Some of the cliff-top views are nothing short of spectacular. On the other side of the island from Carloforte is a functioning lighthouse (Capo Sandalo Lighthouse, now automated), locally known simply as 'il faro' and whose structure dates back to the 1880s.

Carloforte boasts a long standing tradition of wooden boatbuilding. The industry is being kept alive by the dedication and skill of local craftsmen. Locally built traditional lateen sail fishing boats (luggers) can be spotted in the harbour. The town hosts a maritime high school, which remains well attended to this day.

Several boat chartering, diving, and tourist businesses are based in Carloforte. They can be found along its waterfront. The town offers excellent dining.

Sister cities

*flagicon|ESP Alicante, Spain
*flagicon|ITA Province of Genoa, Italy
*flagicon|ITA Pegli, Italy
*flagicon|ITA Camogli, Italy
*flagicon|ITA Montecchio Maggiore, Italy from 2009

References

External links

* [http://www.isoladisanpietro.org/ Carloforte e l'Isola di San Pietro] it icon
* [http://www.regione.sardegna.it/inglese/index.htm Official regional website] en icon
* [http://www.goingtosardinia.com/ Sardinia guide] en icon
* [http://www.sardinianconnections.com/ Tourist information for Sardinia] en icon