Cavallo 3.43

Cavallo is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea located between Corsica and Sardinia. It is politically a part of France and its recent history is tied to Corsica.GeographyCavallo is the only inhabited island of the Lavezzi Archipelago, 2.3 km from the Corsican coast, close to the Strait of Bonifacio. It is about 13 km from Sardinia. The island is French territory, though it belonged to Italy in the past. Cavallo Island is about 120 hectares in area and its highest point is 32 metres above sea level. It has a small port.HistoryCavallo has a long history, beginning when Ancient Rome sent prisoners there to cut granite for monuments. The island was abandoned during Augustus’ empire, and remained uninhabited until a sheep and goat-herder located there in 1800. The deep sea surrounding the island hid dangerous obstacles for navigators, earning the island the nickname “The Cursed Siren.” In 1855, the French frigate Semillante, which was transporting soldiers to Crimea, sank nearby, killing all 693 on board. In 1978, Cavallo made international news when it was the scene of a shooting committed by Vittorio Emanuele, the exiled king of Italy.