Asinara landscape history

Humans first settled on Asinara island in the Neolithic Age. Over the centuries (from the Roman Age to the Kingdom of Aragon) because of its geographic position, the island became a base for sheltering vessels in bad weather conditions and for protecting the Sardinian mainland from attacks by pirates and conquerors. After the XVII century, some Sardinian shepherds and Ligurian fishermen established themselves in a few settlements. Grazing became the most important land use all over the island. In 1885, the Italian Kingdom evicted the few families left living on the island and transformed Asinara into an agricultural penal colony and lazaret. Change in Island use began: 400 convicts and prison guards shaped 230 hectares from semi-natural and natural cover to cultivated areas. Agricultural products were destined for use in the penal colony and as animal food. This continued until about 1980 when the agricultural colony became a maximum security prison; all agricultural activities gradually decreased until they completely disappeared as prisoners could no longer work the land. In 1999 Asinara become a National Park. The most important heritage of agricultural activities is the considerable presence of freed livestock. Today the natural pasture is the last practice connected to agricultural traditions.