Montecristo Island

But this little island’s history does not start with the landing of Alexander Dumas on its shores. Its long and varied history is full of fascinating secrets to reveal. The Greeks had named the island Artemisia and the Romans Oglada or even Mons Jovis. It is said that Saint Mamiliano sought refuge there during the persecutions by the Vandals of Sicily in the fifth century. Saint Mamiliano was at the time Bishop of Palermo and came to the island in the company of some of his faithful companions. But finding paradise on Earth didn’t mean that the saint's trouble was over. And this story is wrapped in legend.

It is said that as soon as he arrived on the island Saint Mamiliano fought against a dragon and killed it by throwing it against a rock. It was from that very rock that the spring water began to flow and that even today still gives life to plants and animals that live on the island. Saint Mamiliano and his followers founded a monastery that they named Monte Cristo and this is how the island got its modern name.

After Saint Mamiliano’s time the monastery encountered great difficulties. The Mediterranean was plowed through by privateers' ships who stabilized themselves on small islands after plundering the coastline. Tuscan noblemen and the Church continued to send new monks and military families to Montecristo in hopes of keeping them away from privateer danger. But their attempts were unsuccessful. In the 1500's, two of the most famous pirates of all- Red Beard and his successor Dragut- chose Montecristo as one of their favourite bases.

It was during that time period that Italy was immersed in the Renaissance and Europe was in combat in the first religious wars. In Central America Cortes was leading his army in the bloody conquer of Mexico. Legend has it that on the little island of Montecristo the pirate Dragut hid marvellous riches accumulated over years of privateer raids. Over the centuries many have attempted to find Dragut's treasures, but no one has ever been successful. Who knows if it ever even existed in the secret grotto where it was supposedly hidden.

Forgetting hidden treasures and coming back to reality, Montecristo receives 50 visitors a day for a total of 1,000 every year. The visits to the island have a maximum stay of a half-day (including the boat ride). To visit it is a challenge, but if you make it, it will definitely be worth the effort for the magical island of Montecristo, with its scent of oleanders and resin, full of forests, wild animals and waterfalls will for most of us remain mysterious and beautiful. We'll have to be content just imagining it like this.