In the beginning was Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis who used his private Greek island, Skorpios, to seduce his future wives. For the record, first the divine opera singer Maria Callas and then the former U.S. first lady Jaqueline Kennedy. It is now owned by Russian Dmitry Evgenevich Rybolovlev, one of the 80 richest men on the planet.The latest Mediterranean island conquered by a private individual is a former fascist lager turned into a luxury resort. It is the island of Mamula in Montenegro. In 1942 the Italians occupied it, exploiting the Austro-Hungarian fortress as a concentration camp. One hundred of the 2,000 people detained there died. Now, erasing the terrible past, the small Adriatic island becomes a resort with 23 suites, two restaurants, with spa, swimming pool and disco. Above all, the marina will be expanded where recreational boats will also be able to moor.
THE CONQUEST OF THE ISLANDS…
But the conquest of the Mediterranean islands has become a real phenomenon. Just recall the legal war over the Sardinian islet of Budelli, contested by the region and municipality to a phantom New Zealand businessman, Michael Harte. The tycoon had won the auction to be awarded from a bankruptcy Budelli subject to very tight environmental constraints. Now it seems that Harte has thrown in the towel.
…AND LIGHTS.
The auction by the State Property Office, which owns the facilities, to win some of Italy’s most beautiful lighthouses, many of them located on pristine islands and then turn them into hotel facilities, also boomed. They will be awarded shortly. And then, goodbye pristine places. In the name of luxury tourism.
