Santo Stefano Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Santo Stefano is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of Italy, and part of the Pontine Islands. It is a circular shape, less than 500 metres in diameter, and located 2 kilometres east from the nearby island of Ventotene.
Like the rest of the archipelago, the island was created by volcanic activity. It is dominated by an old prison built by the Bourbons and in use until 1965. People imprisoned included the anarchist Gaetano Bresci and, during the Fascist regime, the future President of Italy Sandro Pertini, Umberto Terracini, Giorgio Amendola, Lelio Basso, Mauro Scoccimarro, Giuseppe Romita, Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi.
The island has been uninhabited since the closure of the prison, except for tourists that visit by boat during the day.
The island has had several names such as Partenope, Palmosa, Dommo Stephane and Borca since Roman times.
