#Gallo lungo how to#

From here the connection with the word “Galli” that indicate a specie of rapacious birds, translated “ Li Galli”. Greek sailors used to describe the sirens as mythological creatures with female face and rapacious body. Greek legends and epic poems says that the Sirens (from “Sirenai or Sireneuse” that means siren’s place) used to live around the isles. The origin of the name is directly connected with the Greek myth of the sirens. As well many wales and dolphins use to pass close to the costs of the isles during the time of migrations. The main isle, “ Il Gallo Lungo” is around 100 meters large and 400 meters long, showing a dolphin shape, if seen by the sky. Generally, talking about the Galli Isles, locals refers to the homonymous archipelago. The round one is also known as “ La Rotonda”, the main one which is named “ Il Gallo Lungo”, and the third one, “ La Castelluccia”, famous because was inhabited by pirates in ancient ages. Li Galli Isle is not just an islebut a group of three luxuriant rocks, in a marine protected reserve, not far from the Sorrentine Peninsula. The isles were well known for their beauty since the roman age, and we are now sharing the scent of those isles, visited every year by the international jet set, looking for an oasis of peace surrounded by the blue waters, far from prying eyes. A corner of land suspended by sky and sea, where you can look at the infinite horizon and lose yourself in the Mediterranean beauty. The small archipelago of three little isles is one of the very few in the world still pure and respected by the humans.

#Gallo lungo how to#

Members of the public are not allowed to land but can swim in the surrounding waters.Li Galli Isles: Where are the isles, who is the owner, how to get there He also installed a desalinization plant which provided a reliable water supply to and assisted in the development of the gardens,Īfter Nureyev’s death the islands were purchased from his foundation in 1996 by Giovanni Russo, a Sorrento hotelier who besides using them as a private residence also makes them available for private rental with a staff of 7 and a launch to take guests to and from the mainland. He redecorated the villa in the Moorish style and clad its interiors with 19th-century tiles from Seville. Shirley Hazzard in her book Greene on Capri recounts a visit to Massine.Īfter Massine’s death the islands were purchased in 1988 by Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who spent the last years of his life here. The villa featured the bedrooms facing Positano with a large terrace garden on the first floor facing Cape Licosa and Capri. With design advice from his friend Le Corbusier he constructed a villa on the site of the original Roman structure. The theatre was subsequently destroyed by a storm. Initially Massine restored and converted the old Aragonese Tower on Gallo Lungo into accommodation with a dance studio and featuring an open air theatre. In 1922, he purchased Gallo Lungo and began converting it from a place of defense into a private residence. In 1919 the Russian choreographer and dancer Leonide Massine sighted the islands while staying with a friend in Positano. The town later sold the islands to a native of Salerno who sold them to Davide Pariato.

Eventually with the establishment of the Republic of Italy ownership passed to the town of Positano. Responsibility for the islands then passed to Catalian Gilberto Squanes, the Miroballo family and then to the Marino Mastrogiudice before passing to the crown and then the Marquises of Positano. The wardenship was subsequently passed to Angelo Balbo in 1382 and in 1425 to Viviano Mirelli. The tower (today called the Aragonese Tower) was constructed around 1312 and occupied by a garrison of four soldiers.

As he lacked sufficient funds he accepted offer of Pasquale Celentano of Positano to lend the required funds in return for being appointed warden of the fortification. To defer them Charles wished to build a watchtower on top of the remains of a Roman tower on Gallo Lungo. During the reign Charles II of Naples (1285 to 1309) the Amalfi coast became subject to increasing attacks by pirates. Originally Gallo Lungo hosted a monastery and then a prison.