Carloforte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carloforte
U Pàize
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| Comune di Carloforte | ||
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| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Sardinia | |
| Province | South Sardinia | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 51.1 km2 (19.7 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) | |
| Population
(31 May 2017)
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| • Total | 6,190 | |
| • Density | 121.14/km2 (313.7/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Carlofortini or Tabarkini | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
09014
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| Dialing code | 0781 | |
| Patron saint | St. Charles Borromeo | |
| Saint day | November 4 | |
Carloforte is a charming fishing and vacation town. It's located on Saint Peter's Island, about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) off the southwest coast of Sardinia, Italy. In the local Ligurian language, it's called U Pàize, which means "the village" or "the town". Carloforte is even recognized as one of "The most beautiful villages of Italy".
Contents
History of Carloforte
A local church in Carloforte, called Chiesa dei Novelli Innocenti, has an interesting legend. It's said to have been built in the early 1300s. This was to honor hundreds of young people from the Children's Crusade of 1212. They reportedly died in a shipwreck near the island while traveling to North Africa. Today, this church is rarely used for services. It was the only building found when the town was founded in 1739.
Carloforte was started in the 1700s by about 30 families. They were coral fishers from Pegli, a town near Genoa in Liguria, Italy. These families had moved to the island of Tabarka, off the coast of Tunisia, in 1541 to fish for coral.
After many years, the coral in Tabarka ran out. The families decided to return to Italy. On their way, they discovered lots of coral near the coast of Sardinia. They asked King Charles Emmanuel III of Piedmont-Sardinia for permission to live on the empty San Pietro Island. The King agreed, and the island was settled in 1739. The town was named Carloforte, meaning "Charles the Strong" or "Carlo's Fort," in honor of the King.
Even today, Carloforte has strong connections to Pegli and Genoa. The people still speak a special kind of Ligurian called tabarchìn. This language is different from both Italian and Sardinian. Many children on the island still speak it, and it's even taught in local schools.
Life and Work in Carloforte
Carloforte makes its money mainly from fishing, tourism, and money sent home by sailors. Many sailors from Carloforte work all over the world. The town has many beautiful beaches, some rocky and some sandy. This makes it a popular place for tourists to visit in the summer.
On the other side of the island from Carloforte is the Capo Sandalo Lighthouse. It's still working today, but it's now automated. Locals simply call it Il Faro, which means "The Lighthouse." This important building was built in the 1880s.
Carloforte has a long history of building wooden boats. You can still see traditional fishing boats with special lateen sails in the harbor. These boats are built right there in Carloforte.
North of the town, there are old buildings that used to be a large tuna processing factory. This factory was part of the island's busy tuna fishing industry. Some of these buildings have been fixed up. They now house a wind-surfing school and a private business that processes tuna. Other buildings are still in ruins, but they are interesting to see because of their old architecture.
Learning in Carloforte
The town has a high school that focuses on maritime studies. This means students can learn about sailing, ships, and working at sea.
Getting Around Carloforte
Ferry boats connect Carloforte to the mainland of Sardinia. You can take a ferry to Portovesme. There are also ferries to Calasetta, which is another fishing port on Sant'Antioco Island. Calasetta also has a community of people who speak the tabarchìn language.
Sister Cities
Carloforte has "sister city" relationships with other towns around the world. These connections help promote cultural exchange and friendship.
