Asinara

Herculis Insula — that’s what the ancient Romans called it.
The third largest island in Sardinia owes its distinctive shape to the hand of Hercules himself, who, according to legend, tore it away from the Nurra peninsula.
Asinara’s story spans over six thousand years, unfolding like the plot of a cinematic masterpiece.

The setting is one of the most important and unspoiled nature reserves on the continent. The storyline tells of an island shaped by captivating historical twists: first under Latin rule and the Maritime Republics, later becoming the summer retreat of the House of Savoy, and eventually transformed into the “Alcatraz of the Mediterranean,” where mafia members and political prisoners were held.
The cast, on the other hand, features an incredible array of plant and animal species — both terrestrial and marine — all free to play starring roles without human interference disrupting this magnificent ecosystem. Hares, falcons, dolphins, horses, sea turtles, wild boars, monk seals, deer, and, of course, the famous white donkeys to which the island owes its name.
But this isn’t a show you watch from the comfort of a seat in front of a screen. Instead, it’s an immersive experience that draws you into the story itself, following a script framed by castles, prisons, ancient necropolises, royal palaces, sunken shipwrecks — all set within a landscape bursting with fragrance and color.

This is Asinara: a true Oscar-worthy island.