| Le Isole.
Cavoli “Cabbage” Island, situated
little less than a kilometre from the headland of Cape Carbonara,
has a surface area of around 43 hectares and a maximum height
of 40 metres. It used to be thought that its name derived from
the fact that an immense number of crabs were present on the island
(in Sardinian ’’cavoru”), but nowadays its name
is attributed to the  presence
of wild cabbage. The island coast, wirh abundant rocks sculpted
by the sea and wind, zigzags with small granite coves: Cala di
Cipro (Cyprus bay), Cala di Murta and Cala di Ponente. In the
last of these, there is the only berth on the island, built by
the lighthouse keepers, who from 1856 to 1973 were resident there,
cultivating produce in small vegetable gardens. Following this,
after the handing over of the property by the state to the local
council, it was rented out to shepherds, who, until 1981, used
it as pastureland. On the island there is also still the old lighthouse
built around the Spanish defensive tower in 1591, though in 1856,
it was joined on to the present lighthouse; nonetheless, its outline
is still recognisable. It is in good condition and can be visited
on guided tour or on foot, having first made the necessary short
sea trip to Cala di Ponente. The lighthouse is in visual communication
with the towers at Cala Pira, Serpentara Island, Porto Giunco,
and Porceddus. It currently hosts the new university scientific
research centre, set up to emphasise the naturalistic importance
of the area. In addition, it is also the site of a biological
station for geological, geomorphological, botanical and zoological
research activities. The physiognomy of the vegetation has clearly
been influenced by the climate, since it is covered by a low-lying
Mediterranean bush of lentiscus, broom, wild olive and rare examples
of Phoenician juniper.  More
significant is the presence of extremely rare endemisms, such
as the aforementioned Brassica Insularis, Ficaria (wild fig) and
Helicoderos muscivorus, also present on the island of Serpentara
(see below).The animal life of the island is represented mainly
by birds (crested cormorant, Audouin’s and yellow-legged
gull, Sardinian warbler, Cory’s and Manx shearwater and
other birds found in the rest of the area), various reptiles and
spiders, insects and small mammals such as different types of
fox, introduced on to the island to limit the presence of rats.
Cavoli Island falls into Zone B of the geomarine park (for further
information, visit the section above concerning the Protected
Marine Area of Cape Carbonara).
Every year, the procession of Our Lady of the Shipwrecked takes
place in the island’s waters, doubtless one of the most
beautiful and fascinating moments for villagers and tourists staying
in the area. The feast, celebrated in memory of the sailors who
perished, along with their ships, in the sea around the island,
begins on the third Saturday in July at the tourist port. The
following day, there is a procession of ships, decorated with
flowers. These make their way towards the island, where since
1979, on the sea-bed, a statue of the virgin has been placed to
protect sailors. The local priest, with a team of divers, enters
the water to a depth of 10 metres, where at the foot of the Madonna,
he recites the ritual prayer, heard through loudspeakers by the
faithful in the water and on the ships. As a sign of greeting,
the people then sound their sirens and throw multicoloured floral
garlands into the water to create a feast of colours. We recommend
a visit to the island on a fine spring day, when, as well as appreciating
the absolute transparency of the water, one can also enjoy a spectacular
of flower colours and perfumes, including the white blossom of
the Brassica Insularis (Island Cabbage), which grows into a small
tree.
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