As solitary as the very soul of Asinara itself, and as white as the little donkeys that roam here freely and carefree.
If there were an award for the Most Beautiful Abandoned Villages of Italy, Cala dâOliva would undoubtedly be at the top of the list.
This little alabaster urban gem perches on the islandâs northeastern coast, a cluster of houses and narrow streets proudly showing off its maritime spirit and cinematic past.
In fact, in 2016, the film Era dâEstate (It Was Summer) was shot here, telling the story of Judges Falcone and Borsellino, who stayed in the villageâs only red building during the summer of 1985 as they prepared the indictment for the Maxi Trial against the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo.
Beyond its cinematic moment, Cala dâOliva is also known for its history as a prison settlement.
Like the rest of the island, it bears the marks of a century-long transformation: from a fishing village to a residential hub for prison officials and their families. These families could once rely on a school, a bar, an infirmary, a cinema, a pizzeria, a dairy, and a carpentry workshopâfacilities that remain remarkably well preserved today, giving this little village a truly one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
