Punta Licosa

Do you believe in Mermaids? 

Legend has it that Ulysses tied himself to the mast of his

ship as he passed through the waters off the Cilento coast,

to resist the ravishing voice of the siren Leucosia as he

sailed on his long voyage home.

But the reality of Punta Licosa is the poignant memorial

to the sinking of the submarine Velella - all 49 lives were

lost.

The memorial to those lost aboard Velella

The Velella was built in Monfalcone in 1936 for Portugal,

but was operated by the Italian Regia Marina when

Portugal was unable to pay the construction costs.

Her final patrol was off the coast of Salerno on 

7th September 1943, where she joined 10 other boats

in an attempt to oppose the Allied landing.

She was torpedoed by the British submarine Shakespeare at

about 8 pm, and there were no survivors.

For some reason, the memorial out at Punta Licosa 

commemorates the 59th Anniversary of the sinking; seems

an odd anniversary to choose. But then, this is

southern Italy & 'normal' doesn't apply to much here.

The saddest part of the story is....

8th September 1943 was Italian Armistice Day

A plaque, a prayer & a photograph