Island of Tino

Tino is the middle island between the Island of Palmaria to the north and the Island of Tinetto to the south. It has an area of 127,000 sq. m. and a perimeter of almost 2 km, and offers a lust vegetation of maritime pines, oaks, myrtles, and mastics trees.

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Nowadays the island is entirely owned by the military and is only open to visitors once a year, on September 13th for the celebration of the festival of San Venerio.

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San Venerio, the patron saint of the Gulf of La Spezia, lived on the island in the 6th century A.D. as a hermit and later as abbot. He used to light fires to warn ships of the presence of rocks and shallow waters on stormy nights. He is now the patron saint of lighthouse keepers (faristi).

In memory of this, today you can find a lighthouse on the 122m high cliff serving as a guide for the passing boats, ships and vessels.

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It is believed that an abbey was constructed in the 7th century at the place of Venerio's death to contain his remains and that this was extended to form a monastery in 11th century. The remains of the monastery can be seen on the northern coast of the island.

On the island, you can also find remains of fortifications built by the Germans during the Second World War used for defending the harbour of La Spezia, which was (and still is) an important naval base.

Some of these fortifications and the sheer cliffs on which they are built were used as a location for the famous film 'I Cannoni di Navarrone' (The Guns of Navarrone).

Approaching island of Tino by boat you can also admire the statue of the Madonna Bianca.

The Madonna Bianca has a special significance for the people of Portovenere. Its image is hosted in the Church of San Lorenzo in town and evert year in August there is a special procession dedicated to the Madonna when the town transforms into a magical place as thousand of candles lit the cliffs around Byron's cave and San Pietro Church .