Thursday, 21 November 2013

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


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