An Italian mayor has vowed to do everything in his power to stop Punta Pennata – a slice of island paradise close to the heart of Naples, from where a fleet departed to rescue survivors of the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius – being sold to a wealthy speculator.
Located within the pristine waters of Bacoli, a fishing town located in the vast volcanic area of the Campi Flegrei, and described as a “historical and natural gem”, the strip of land was put up for sale to the highest bidder this week.
“Surrounded by lush Mediterranean vegetation and Roman relics, it offers a fascinating and unique retreat,” the selling agent, Sotheby’s Realty, said, describing a partially complete villa as an “ideal opportunity to be transformed into a refined property”.
Sotheby’s added: “With breathtaking views and the picturesque presence of nearby Schiacchetiello, Punta Pennata stands as a unique and exclusive opportunity for a prestigious investment.”
But the move has caused anxiety for the residents of Bacoli and its mayor, Josi Della Ragione, who said he would do all he could to ensure his administration bought Punta Pennata, which he said reminded him of Neverland, the imaginary island home of Peter Pan.
“We have contacted the agency and said we would like to buy it,” Della Ragione said. “It is an integral part of our local history, of the scenery. It is a peaceful, uncontaminated spot and we want to protect it. There are also lots of restrictions on what can be done on the island and so it most definitely cannot be used for economic gain.”
The islet was a peninsula attached to the mainland until 1966, when it was cut off by a tidal surge. Apart from the 200 sq metre villa and the remains of an 18th-century cemetery, the islet is largely a nature reserve and is popular with local people and visitors alike, who swim in its waters and dive off its rocks.
“It’s where people go to get away from it all,” said Della Ragione.
Punta Pennata is also surrounded by the underwater ruins of Baiae, an ancient resort in the gulf of Pozzuoli where Roman nobility used to party, and was at the centre of the Miseno military port used by Roman armies.
“Other than having an anthropological value because of the relics from the cemetery that are still there, it also has archaeological value because of the military port,” said Della Ragione. “It is where Pliny the Elder left on his mission, so it is an iconic place.”
Della Ragione could not name its current owner, but believes it is someone living in Naples. He said the island “had been abandoned”.
Sotheby’s has not disclosed a price tag but Della Ragione estimates the island’s value at about €5m (£4.2m).
He said his administration had the funds for the purchase, but if the figure was higher he would seek the help of Campania’s regional authorities and the national government.
His idea would be to turn the island into a sort-of “open-air museum”. “It could be used by schoolchildren to study the environment,” he said. “Either way, we must deliver it to the public. It must not be sold to a speculator.”
A similar tussle was ignited in 2013 over Budelli, an island off Sardinia famous for its pink-sanded beach, when Michael Harte, a businessman from New Zealand, made an offer to buy it. But his plans were thwarted by local protests and an intervention by the Italian government. In 2016, a Sardinian judge ruled that the island be put back into public hands.
Budelli was, until 2021, home to a sole resident, Mauro Morandi, who died last week. It is now managed by the La Maddalena national park authorities.
• This article was amended on 10 January 2025. The caption and main text of an earlier version referred to the islet being 200 sq metres; that is the size of the villa, not of the islet.
