Italian Alcatraz: former colony on the island of Santo Stefano is planned to be turned into a museum

Despite its grim reputation, abandoned prisons are often popular tourist destinations. The famous Alcatraz in the United States annually attracts about a million visitors who want to experience the sinister atmosphere of the former colony. In Italy, they decided to organize a similar open-air museum in the old prison on the island of Santo Stefano. The local authorities hope that the complex will become a center for tourists and scientists.

A former prison in Italy will turn into a tourist attraction like Alcatraz in the United States. 70 million euros (about 7 billion rubles) were allocated for the restoration of the object. There will be a museum, several hostels and a bar. Guided tours can be arranged throughout the property.

The small island, which is located in Santo Stefano, used to be accessible only by scuba divers or fishermen. Tourists were not frequent visitors here. The island is surrounded by rocks and the wreckage of old ships.

In the past, the prison was used for short-term detention of prisoners. Especially many prisoners were here in the 1930s and 1940s during the fascist regime. The unfortunate ones were tortured, and those who attempted to escape were drowned in the sea.

In the 1950s, the colony turned into a regular one, with a movie theater and a football field. A bakery and shops were built here, and prisoners could work as masons and cooks.

The settlers had their own currency for making purchases and sales. They were allowed to paint their cameras.

The prison was closed in 1965 and has remained abandoned ever since.

Those who wish can now go on a tour to the island, but travelers can expect a 40-minute ascent along steep paths. It is possible to get to the object only when the sea is calm.

The remote location and difficult access can create problems for tourists. There is no electricity or running water. Local authorities plan to correct the situation. They want to organize an open-air museum and a traveling exhibition here. The former home of the head of the colony and the football field will be turned into a hostel with 30 rooms. The old bakery will open a bar with a beautiful view of Mount Vesuvius.

Officials hope that visitors will come to the island all year round, and not just in the summer. They believe that Santo Stefano can become a center of attraction for global academics who work on the topics of ecology, human rights, freedom of speech, European citizenship and the Mediterranean dialogue.

In Italy, they are doing their best to breathe new life into abandoned buildings. In many regions of the country, old houses sell for as little as 1 euro, but buyers must be prepared for certain conditions.