‘An enchanting oasis’: Venetian island with Napoleonic fort up for sale

Original article by Angela Giuffrida in Rome

An island in the Venice lagoon boasting a Napoleonic fort and lush gardens is up for sale.

Described as an “enchanting oasis of peace and beauty”, Crevan offers a “spectacular view” of Venice’s main island, but is far from its crowds.

Located a few minutes by boat from the islands of Burano and Torcello and just slightly smaller than the size of a standard football pitch, Crevan was built in 1806 by the French military during the Napoleonic era as a strategic outpost to defend the northern Venetian lagoon from the Austrian empire.

But in 1815 the island fell under Austrian rule before passing to the Italian state in 1866, after the annexation of Veneto to the Kingdom of Italy. Crevan continued to serve a military purpose until after the first world war.

After years of neglect, it was bought by a private owner and its buildings restored as residential properties.

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Its most prominent feature is the Napoleonic fort, converted by the current owner into a small villa with four bedrooms and surrounded manicured lawns and vegetable and fruit gardens and trees. There is also a private mooring along the island’s small internal canal, and a helipad.

Crevan has been listed for sale by several top property agencies, including Lionard Luxury Real Estate and Dimora Italian Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International. The asking price, however, is strictly reserved for interested buyers.

“Crevan offers the privilege of withdrawing from the world without ever leaving the universal allure of Venice,” Dimitri Corti, the founder and chief executive of Lionard Luxury Real Estate, said in a press release. “What one acquires is not simply a residence and a piece of land, but space, privacy and an entire landscape to preserve.”

But Crevan has competition. Isola Santa Cristina, another island in the Venetian lagoon that for decades was owned by the heir to the Swarovski crystal empire, was put up for sale at about €24m in June. The luxury retreat comes with a huge villa, a saltwater swimming pool and vineyards.

An octagonal-shaped island close to the Venice lido and dating back to the 1500s, when it was built as a defence post by the Republic of Venice, is also on the market.