Meloria
| Meloria | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Waters | Tyrrhenian Sea | |
| Archipelago | Tuscan Archipelago | |
| Geographical location | 43 ° 33 ' N , 10 ° 13' E | |
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| Residents | uninhabited | |
Meloria is a small rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea that rises about seven kilometers from the port of Livorno from an area of shallows (the so-called Secche della Meloria ). Administratively, Meloria belongs to the municipality of Livorno, geographically the rock can be counted as part of the Tuscan Archipelago .
On the island there is a tower ( Torre della Meloria ) from the 18th century. The waters around Meloria were the scene of two naval battles.
history
The first lighthouse on Meloria was probably built in the 12th century by the Republic of Pisa . The lighthouse also served as a fortress and was entrusted first to the Benedictines of Pisa , then to the Augustinians of the Church of San Jacopo in Acquaviva in Livorno.
In 1241 the first sea battle at Meloria between the fleet of Emperor Frederick II with his ally Pisa and the Republic of Genoa took place near the rock and ended with a victory for the emperor.
In 1284 the historically more significant second naval battle at Meloria between Genoa and Pisa, the largest naval battle of the Middle Ages, ended with a Genoese victory.
In 1286 the tower was destroyed by the Genoese. It was only rebuilt at the end of the 16th century on behalf of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinando I de 'Medici , but soon collapsed again.
The current construction, which no longer serves as a lighthouse, was built in 1709 under Cosimo III. de 'Medici erected.
