Island in Alassio, Italy, 110 000 sq.m

The islands for sale in the Mediterranean, especially in Italy, are few and far between; on the French Riviera, for example, there are only 5 private islands, and currently none of them are for sale.

Gallinara Island is an ideal location in the heart of the Mediterranean, just 15 minutes by helicopter from Monaco.
Access to Gallinara is very easy thanks to two international airports within 100 km and a private airport 10 km from the center of Albenga.
The island is 100% private, protected by Italian law, 100 meters from the shore.

The protected regional park offers untouched Mediterranean flora and fauna. Historically rich history dating back to Roman times.
Breathtaking views from a private villa, a swimming pool and a stunning monastery with private apartments.

The private island is located in the province of Savona, Liguria, Italy, between the towns of Alassio and Albenga to the coast 1.5 km, to Alassio 4.7 km. Albenga Private Airport, located 8 km from the island. Monaco 92 km Genoa 98 km Nice 106 km Nearest International Airport: Genoa and Nice Helicopter transfer from Albenga Airport 5 min. Helicopter transfer from Monaco airport 15 min.

The total area of the island is 11 hectares | Height 87 m | Length 470 m | Width 450 m. The name of the island comes from the Italian word "wild chickens", which, according to Cato the Elder and Varro, inhabited the island in ancient times. Old sunken ships and Roman artifacts were found in the surrounding depths. They date back to the 5th century BC and are believed to originate from Marseille, brought by traders who occupied the island.

In 1162, Pope Alexander II, fleeing from the Roman German Emperor Frederick Barberose, arrived on the island of Gallinara and took it under the control of the Holy See. In the middle of the 4th century, Gallinara became a refuge for Saint Hermit Martin de Tours and housed one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in northern Italy in the Middle Ages.

Starting from the 13th century, the monastery experienced a gradual decline until its extinction in 1473, when Pope Innocent IV was appointed by the General Federation of Costa. In 1586, a tower was erected to protect the territory from attack. In 1680, ownership of the island passed to the city of Albenga. In 1842 or 1866 (according to conflicting sources) Bishop Rafael Biale sold the island to the banker Leonardo Maurizio Gastaldi. In 1905, Michele Riccardi became the owner, who built a neo-Roman church in honor of St. Martin.

During World War II, a Wehrmacht battalion dug a network of tunnels throughout the island, resulting in two bunkers. In 1950, the famous Italian archaeologist Nino Lamboglia began the first underwater research. In the early 1950s, the island was acquired by a businessman from Genoa, Riccardo Diana. He is building a port, docks and a magnificent villa located on the most panoramic point of the island.

In 1988, the island was declared a protected nature reserve. The island is a classified nature reserve, home to rare species of flora and fauna, a wide variety of rare Mediterranean plants, flowers dating from the Paleolithic period, and unusual animals and reptiles of the Mediterranean ecosystem. This exceptionally pristine nature reserve is home to one of the largest colonies of herring in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, which comes to nest on the island.

The island is also a favorite destination for experienced divers. Due to the sunken ship of the XVIII century and old warships in the depths, diving is possible only accompanied by a certified specialist. There are two areas on the island where the flora is especially rich in marine plants, sponges and fish. In 1998, a statue of Christ was installed at the bottom of the sea, at a depth of 18 meters under water.

At depths from 15 to 30 meters, it is relatively easy to dive, given the depth and currents, you can find brown perch, common wad, octopus and red scorpion. The island is surrounded by a protected marine area, an ideal place to explore sea daisies, yellow sea sponges, brown rocky fish.

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