Barbana Island extends approximately 3 hectares along the eastern side of Grado lagoon, about 5 km from the town (GO). Its name probably derives from Barbano, a 6th century hermit who gathered a community of monks here. Still today, the only fulltime residents of the island are the Franciscan friars.
Forest covers over half the island, on the western side, with honeyberry trees, magnolias, cypresses, elms and cluster pines.
The island has an ancient sanctuary to the Virgin Mary which is believed to have been built in 582 CE following an extremely violent storm that threatened the town of Grado. When it ended, an image of the Virgin was found on the island, brought by the waters, prompting Elia, the patriarch of Grado, to build a sepulchre on the spot to thank her for saving the city.
The island is a twenty-minute ferry or boat ride from Canale della Schiusa in Grado.
Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission
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Phone: +39 040 3720142
Email: info@fvgfilmcommission.com
