Isola Bisentina
| Isola Bisentina | ||
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| Waters | Lake Bolsena | |
| Geographical location | 42 ° 34 '55 " N , 11 ° 54' 24" E | |
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| length | 650 m | |
| width | 570 m | |
| surface | 17 ha | |
| Highest elevation | Monte Tabor 361 m asl |
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| Residents | uninhabited | |
The Isola Bisentina is the more northern and larger of the two islands in Lake Bolsena (the other is the Isola Martana ).
geography
It is 17 hectares in size, with a length of 650 meters and a width of 570 meters. It belongs to the municipality of Capodimonte and is dominated by Monte Tabor , which rises 56 meters above the surface of the lake. The coast drops steeply in the south and east, otherwise it is flat.
On the island are small forests of evergreen oaks , gardens and various historical buildings, including the church of Santi Giacomo e Cristoforo del Vignola with a dome by the architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola and the Rocchina ( dedicated to Saint Catherine ). The Rocchina in the very south of the island was built with an octagonal floor plan based on a design by Antonio da Sangallo over an Etruscan columbarium on a rocky promontory. The crucifix chapel, north of the Rocchina on Monte Calvario, has frescoes from the fifth century. The Malta dei Papi , a former prison for clergy found guilty of heresy , was formed from a small cave in the center of the island into which only a little light falls through a trap door 20 meters high. On Mount Tabor, the highest point on the island, there are frescoes depicting Popes Pius I and Pius II and a transfiguration of Christ.
history
The Etruscans and Romans who lived on the island left only a few traces. In the Middle Ages the island was deserted. In the 9th century the island served as a refuge from the Saracens .
Around 1250 it passed into the possession of the ruler of Bisenzio , who left and set fire to the island after disputes with the islanders . In 1261 it was conquered by Urban IV . In 1333 the island was destroyed again, this time by Ludwig IV of Bavaria , who was accused and excommunicated of heresy by the Pope.
From 1400 the island came under the ownership of the Farnese family for several centuries . A period of prosperity ensued, and the island became the summer residence of many popes.
In 1635 it was ruled by Odoardo I Farnese , Duke of Castro , who came into conflict with the Church, which led to the total destruction of Castro. For a short time the islands came back into possession of the church.
In the 1700s, the island became the property of the Girauld family, who laid it out as an English landscape garden.
Today the island is privately owned by Princess Beatrice Spada Potenziani, the wife of Duke Fieschi Ravaschieri.
The island has not been open to the public for several years. There are prohibition signs everywhere that prohibit entering the island. There are no guided tours or boat tours to the island. The city of Capodimonte has long been in negotiations with the owners to make the island accessible to the public again, which has so far been unsuccessful. In summer and on weekends, the bays in front of the island are used as a popular place for anchoring boats.