Believe it or not, what you’re seeing is real and hasn’t been edited using Photoshop. There is an island in Italy that looks exactly like a dolphin! This incredible wonder of nature is situated between Capri and Positano and is part of a collection of islands called the Sirenusas or the Gallos. The largest island in this cluster is known as Gallo Lungo and its unique shape resembling that of a dolphin makes it a popular tourist attraction. Nature truly never ceases to amaze us.
Not only does this island have a unique shape, but it also boasts a captivating history that adds to its allure. The name Sirenusas, for instance, originates from the Italian word sirene, which means sirens. According to legend, these mythical creatures made the islands their home. In ancient Greek mythology, sirens had human heads and bird-like bodies, which inspired the second name of the islands, the Gallos, derived from the Italian word galli, meaning roosters.
In the past, Gallo Lungo served as a monastery and later on turned into a prison. During the 13th century, a watchtower was built there, which King Charles II of Naples utilized to keep an eye on the Αmalfi Coast and prevent pirate attacks. The island’s management was handed down to various tower wardens as time passed. But when Italy was unified in the 19th century, the town of Positano took ownership of it.
However, the island’s history didn’t stop there. After being sold by the town, it was purchased by a private owner and eventually ended up in the hands of Russian choreographer Leonide Massine in 1919. Massine decided to turn the island into his own personal residence, and even went so far as to install a dance studio in the old watchtower. He even hired famous architect Le Corbusier to help build his villa on the site of ancient Roman ruins.
After Massine’s passing, the ownership of the island was transferred to Rudolf Nureyev, another Russian dancer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ballet performers of all time. In 1961, Nureyev managed to escape the clutches of the KGB and sought asylum in the West, becoming the first prominent artist to do so, which caused a stir around the world. He later joined the Royal Ballet in London as a dancer and became the director of the Paris Opera Ballet.
From 1988 until his passing in 1993, Nureyev resided on Gallo Lungo and made several changes to the villa’s decor to suit his style. He also put in effort to improve the water supply and cultivate the gardens. After his demise, the island returned to Italian ownership when Giovanni Russo acquired it in 1996. Nowadays, Russo uses it as his private residence and rents it out to lucky guests who are catered to by a staff of seven.
If you’re interested in exploring this historically rich dolphin-shaped island, you’ll need to rent the residence for access. While swimming around the island is open to anyone, docking and exploring it is only allowed for paying guests. Luckily, the best view of the island’s unique shape is from above.
Located off the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the island is a part of the Sirenusas or Gallos cluster.
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