Capraia Isola

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Capraia Isola
coat of arms
Capraia Isola (Italy)
Capraia Isola
Country Italy
region Tuscany
province Livorno  (LI)
Coordinates 43 ° 3 '  N , 9 ° 51'  E Coordinates: 43 ° 2 '57 "  N , 9 ° 50' 38"  E
height 52  m slm
surface 19 km²
Residents 392 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density 21 inhabitants / km²
Post Code 57032
prefix 0586
ISTAT number 049005
Popular name Capraiesi
Patron saint San Nicola di Bari
(December 6th)
Website Capraia Isola
View of the main town from the former penal colony

Capraia Isola is an Italian municipality with 392 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) in the province of Livorno in Tuscany . The municipality covers the entire island of Capraia in the Mediterranean Sea and belongs to the Tuscan Archipelago .

history

The island was called Aegylon (Αηγυλον) by the Greeks and Capraria by the Romans - both names presumably refer to the presence of wild goats on Capraia ( Italian capra , goat ). Another theory assumes that the name is derived from the old Mediterranean root * karpa , meaning rock, stone .

In the Middle Ages, the island was initially a base for Saracen pirates, then it was under the rule of Pisa , after the Battle of Meloria it came to Genoa . Although Capraia was administratively part of Corsica , the island remained with Genoa after 1768 and did not come to France.

After the unification of Italy (see Risorgimento ), the island was part of the province of Genoa until November 15, 1925 , only then did it come to Tuscany . In religious terms, Capraia belonged to the Archdiocese of Genoa until January 1, 1977 .

From 1873 to 1986 the island was an agricultural penal colony .

Attractions

The main attractions of Capraia are:

  • The fortress of San Giorgio (12th century) with Torretta del Bagno
  • The other coastal towers Torre del Porto, Torre della Regina (ruin) and Torre dello Zenobito (ruin)
  • The monastery of Sant'Antonio ( desecrated ). The church was used by the prison administration during the prison colony period.
  • The Chiesa dell'Assunta (located at the port)
  • San Nicola Church (in the village)
  • San Leonardo Church (desecrated)
  • Santo Stefano Church (ruin)

  • Fortress of San Giorgio

  • Torretta del Bagno

  • Torre del Porto

  • The former monastery of Sant'Antonio

  • View of the harbor with the Maria Assunta church

  • San Nicola Church

Web links

Commons : Capraia Isola  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.