International Conference on Philosophical Practice

Geographical position

San Pietro Island is a small island off the south-west coast of Sardinia. It covers an area of 32 square miles (52 km2) and has 11 miles (18 km)of coastline. The population of 7000 people increases to 40,000 during the summer months. It can be reached in just over half an hour by ferry from Portoscuso, near to Carbonia, or from Calasetta on the island of Sant’Antioco. It is 48 miles (77 km) from Cagliari (port – airport).

The island is known since ancient times. The Phoenicians called it Enosim, the Greeks Hieracon Nesos and the Romans Accipitrum Insula (Sparrowhawk Island). The island’s name as we know it, derives from the legend that St Peter came to visit it in 46 AD.
Left practically uninhabited after the fall of the Roman Empire, Isola San Pietro’s roots are closely linked with the history of another island, Tabarka, off the coast of Tunisia. A Ligurian family, the Lomellini, Signori di Pegli, colonised Tabarka in 1535, attracted by its coral reefs and the money that could be made from them.

The lingurian-tabarkan community prospered on the island until 1738, when overpopulation, attacks from Barbary pirates and the degeration of the coral reefs convinced some of them to move to Isola San Pietro, at the invitation of Carlo Emanuele III.

In what was a sort of pirate’s refuge, they started to lay the foundations of the town that would take the King’s name – Carloforte. During the following years they were joined by another group of Tabarkans, Tunisian slaves that were freed by the King.
In 1793, the island was occupied by the French and given the name Liberty Island; in 1798, it suffered a huge invasion by the Barbary pirates, who took nearly a thousand slaves, who remained prisoners until 1803.

Carloforte became a City in 1808, the centre prospered thanks to commercial trading and in the second half of the 19th Century, it became the centre for the export of the minerals being extracted along the coastline. This was the period in which the population of the island peaked at 11,000 residents. At the beginning of the 20th Century, maritime activity made it an important Sardinian port, electricity arrived on the island and business flourished. With the crisis in the mining industry, the islanders turned to more traditional activities: fishing, artisan work, sailing. Today, tourism is the main source of income on the island.

Historical remains

There are remains of nuraghe on the island which proves that this civilisation was able to sail, although it was long thought to the contrary. Roman remains have also been found the island which suggest it was perhaps a military outpost. The Novelli Innocenti church was built in the 13th Century, to commemorate the Children's Crusade (1212) shipwreck off the Island’s coast in which many children died.
The old city centre offers testimony to nearly three centuries of life in a city that, even now, has very recognisable Ligurian origins: in the upper part of the city, the monument to Carlo Emanuele III, the 17th Century palaces and 18th Century buildings – constructed when the city was expanding outside its walls.

When the island was first colonised in the 18th Century, the only stone constructions were the Duke’s house (now the museum) and the city’s defensive walls. In 1767 the San Vittorio fort was built in honour od King Vittorio Amedeo II by the Duke of San Pietro. Now this building is used by the Astronomical Observatory.

The church of St. Carlo Borromeo was built in 1775, this architectural jewel is a copy of the Pegli parish church. In 1806, due to various invasions of the island, seven towers with a linking defensive wall were built. The Madonna dello Schivo church takes its name from a wooden statue (which is in fact a figurehead from a ship) which was found on the beach by one of the inhabitants of Carloforte when they were imprisoned in Tunisia.

The port sea walls were constructed in 1906. Off the north-western coast are two small islands, the Isola dei Ratti and Isola Piana. The latter includes the remains of one of the largest tonnara in Italy, now turned into a tourist resort. More information on this can be found in the museum.

Natural beauty

The island is volcanic in origin and is home to many sepcies of flora and fauna. It’s uncontaminated waters and soils make it the perfect tourist destination.

The vegetation is that typical of the Mediterranean coast, with Aleppo Pine, Juniper, Strawberry Tree, and Holm Oak. It is hoem to more than 500 species of flora and fauna, including the rare Astragalus maritimus moris (only found on San Pietro Island).

 In town 
  - Hotel Riviera **** (c)
  - Hotel Hieracon **** (c) 
  - Hotel California *** (c)
  - Hotel Villa Pimpina *** (c)
  - B&B A cà u paise (c)
  - Nichotel **** (c)
  - B&B Il Ghiro 
  - B&B Il Carruggetto
  -

 Outside town
 - Hotel Mezzaluna *** (c)
 - B&B Villa Baita Marina  (c) 
 - Hotel Leterrazze **** 
 - Hotel DauGalman ***
 - Hotel Paola ***
 - Hotel Guardiamori ***
 - B&B Villa Gioiosa
 - Hotel La Valle 
 - B&B Creuza de Mà
 - B&B Casavale
 - B&B Calalunga
 - B&B La Tartaruga


 (c = Conference offers)

 In Carloforte it's possible to rent
 houses and appartaments.
 Please contact MSH Carloforte:
 +39 3395095209 
 mshcarloforte@gmail.com

(c = Conference offers)

Ferry companies:      
 - Sardinia e Corsica Ferries
 - Tirrenia
 - Grimaldi
 - Moby Lines
 - CNM - La Meridionale
 - Linea dei Golfi Lloyd Sardegna
 - Enermar
 - SNAV
 - Saremar
 - Delcomar

Car hire: 
 ALGHERO FERTILIA airport
 - Autonoleggio Sardinya
  - Maggiore
 - Hertz

 CAGLIARI ELMAS airport
 - Autonoleggio Sardinya
 - Hertz
 - Maggiore
 - Willy's Tour  autonoleggio
 - Panor Viaggi

 CAGLIARI city centre
 - Hertz
 - Maggiore

 OLBIA COSTA SMERALDA airport
 - Autonoleggio Sardinya
 - Hertz
 - Maggiore

Shuttle service: 
Travelservice
  (English speaking,
   all Sardinia's airport-Carloforte)

  Telephone:
   +39 3402236601
  www.sardiniatravelservice.com


DI.BE.  taxi service
(Cagliari airport-Carloforte)
  
Telephone:
   +39 0781.854392
  Mobile:
   +393334615956 e
   +393388899022

 Battista Capriata
(Cagliari airport-Carloforte)   

Telephone:
   +39 0781.855746
  Mobile:
   +393387234495

  For general information:
         info@carloforte2008.eu

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