PRODUCTIONS: ASINARA

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Daniele Cini and Maurizio Fell

SD Cinematografica

30'

HD

The island of Asinara, which is found off the extreme North-West coast of Sardinia, is one of the most unknown places in Italy. Visitors have not been allowed on the island since the last century and except for local fishermen, who were allowed to land here until fifteen years ago, the only human presence has been a small penal colony.
It is for these reasons that no documentaries of the island have been made.
Today, with the closure of the Fornelli maximum security prison, there are 150 guards and prisoners left on the island and it is already being considered for reopening. Therefore, the fate of the island is in question.
On one side, environmentalists are urging that it be converted into a national park, whilst local interest would like to develop tourist-oriented projects on the island. Furthermore, in addition to the proposal that it continue to be used as a penitentiary, there has also been a stunning proposal that it be put up for sale.
A glance at the island and one understands why Asinara attracts so much attention: 51 square kilometers of wild Mediterranean bush, 100 km of virgin coast, crystal white beaches, fish-filled bays among granitic rocks, groves and pastures where one can encounter mouflon and rare plants in abundance.
However, the most interesting aspect from a naturalistic point of view are the 51 species of birds found on Asinara (of which 32 are pretected).