Capraia
Encyclopedia
Capraia, called Capraria in ancient times, is an island
of Italy
, part of the Tuscan Archipelago
, off the northwest coast; it is also a comune (municipality) belonging to the Province of Livorno
. It is 62 km from the city of Livorno
by sea, and 32 km northwest of the island of Elba
; it is slightly closer (at 30 km) to the French
island of Corsica
. It is of volcanic origin, has an area of 19 km² and its highest point is 466 m above sea level
.
The island produces wine
, and is a centre of the anchovy
fishery
. About 40 km to the north is the island of Gorgona
, which is also famous for its anchovies.
The island is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park
.
, its name deriving perhaps from the presence of wild goats (Latina: capra). In the 4th century AD it housed a cenobium, where is the current church of St. Stephen.
In 1055 it was conquered by Saracen
pirates, and later it was held by the Republic of Pisa
. It become part of the Republic of Genoa
after the Battle of Meloria, being assigned to the patrician Jacopo de Mari (1430) In 1540 the Genoese built here the Fortress of St. George (built in 1540 above a pre-existing fortification demolished by the African corsair Turgut Reis
) and three coastal watch towers (Torre del Porto, 1541), Torre dello Zenobito, 1545, and Torre delle Barbici, 1699) against piracy. In 1767 it was occupied by Pasquale Paoli
's troops.
In 1796 it was occupied for a short time by the British naval commander Horatio Nelson. After the annexation of the Republic of Genoa to the Kingdom of Sardinia
decided by the Congress of Vienna
in 1815, it was part of the province of Genoa
until 1925, when it was moved to that of Livorno.
From 1873 to 1986 it was the seat of a penal colony.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, part of the Tuscan Archipelago
Tuscan Archipelago
The Tuscan Archipelago is a chain of islands between the Ligurian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea, west of Tuscany, Italy.The archipelago contains the islands of Gorgona, Capraia, Elba , Pianosa, Montecristo, Giglio, and Giannutri; all of which are protected as part of the Tuscan Archipelago National...
, off the northwest coast; it is also a comune (municipality) belonging to the Province of Livorno
Province of Livorno
The Province of Livorno or Leghorn is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. It includes several islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, including Elba and Capraia. Its capital is the city of Livorno....
. It is 62 km from the city of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
by sea, and 32 km northwest of the island of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
; it is slightly closer (at 30 km) to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. It is of volcanic origin, has an area of 19 km² and its highest point is 466 m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
The island produces wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and is a centre of the anchovy
Anchovy
Anchovies are a family of small, common salt-water forage fish. There are 144 species in 17 genera, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Anchovies are usually classified as an oily fish.-Description:...
fishery
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
. About 40 km to the north is the island of Gorgona
Gorgona, Italy
Gorgona is the northernmost island in the Tuscan Archipelago, a group of islands off the west coast of Italy. Between Corsica and Livorno, this diminutive island has been valued most for its wildlife, especially marine birds, and its isolation. The latter quality resulted in the foundation of...
, which is also famous for its anchovies.
The island is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park
Arcipelago Toscano National Park
Arcipelago Toscano National Park is a large marine park in Italy: it safeguards 56,766 hectares of sea and 17,887 hectares of land. It includes the seven main islands of the Archipelago , some minor islands and cliffs.-References:* Yearbook of the Italian Parks 2005, edited by Comunicazione in...
.
History
The island was called Aegylon (Αηγυλον) by the Greeks and then Capraria by the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, its name deriving perhaps from the presence of wild goats (Latina: capra). In the 4th century AD it housed a cenobium, where is the current church of St. Stephen.
In 1055 it was conquered by Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
pirates, and later it was held by the Republic of Pisa
Republic of Pisa
The Republic of Pisa was a de facto independent state centered on the Tuscan city of Pisa during the late tenth and eleventh centuries. It rose to become an economic powerhouse, a commercial center whose merchants dominated Mediterranean and Italian trade for a century before being surpassed and...
. It become part of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
after the Battle of Meloria, being assigned to the patrician Jacopo de Mari (1430) In 1540 the Genoese built here the Fortress of St. George (built in 1540 above a pre-existing fortification demolished by the African corsair Turgut Reis
Turgut Reis
Turgut Reis was an Ottoman Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey, later Pasha, of Tripoli. Under his naval command the Ottoman Empire maritime was extended across North Africa...
) and three coastal watch towers (Torre del Porto, 1541), Torre dello Zenobito, 1545, and Torre delle Barbici, 1699) against piracy. In 1767 it was occupied by Pasquale Paoli
Pasquale Paoli
Filippo Antonio Pasquale di Paoli , was a Corsican patriot and leader, the president of the Executive Council of the General Diet of the People of Corsica...
's troops.
In 1796 it was occupied for a short time by the British naval commander Horatio Nelson. After the annexation of the Republic of Genoa to the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
decided by the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
in 1815, it was part of the province of Genoa
Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa.It has an area of 1,838 km², and a total population of about 900,000...
until 1925, when it was moved to that of Livorno.
From 1873 to 1986 it was the seat of a penal colony.