Isola: Defending The Status

In the middle of the river that separates the Government Palace from the Aggiunta Neighborhood, known ever since the discovery of the territory that would later become the Republic, rises an island. Although central to the City’s landscape, the island was neither urbanized nor used for any purpose for an entire decade.

Projects followed one another without ever leading to actual construction: at first it was imagined as an inn, then as a prison, later as a religious institute. Nothing within this crucible of ideas resulted in a single concrete action.

Suddenly, thanks to the decisive push of Governor Galli, something began to move. It had by then become unacceptable for an island in the very middle of the river to serve no purpose, standing only steps away from the thriving Aggiunta Neighborhood and close to the Government Palace, both focal points of life within the City of Cismarina. The urbanization study began on Day 6418, and construction started immediately afterward.

The land began to be leveled and adapted so that it would be ready for whatever purpose might eventually be assigned to it. It must be said that, at least initially, no precise purpose had yet been conceived, but it was reasoned that beginning the work was preferable to postponing it further.

The island, now urbanized and ready for use, was gradually inaugurated in the presence of Governor Galli (with the first bridge, named Gentile, toward Aggiunta, inaugurated on Day 6423, and the second bridge toward Villa Turchi, in the Upper City, inaugurated two days later, on Day 6425).

Immediately afterward, the main supporters of the urbanization effort within Parliament — individuals tied in various ways to the island’s territory (some for commercial interests, others for territorial affiliation, others out of long-term hopes, and some simply for the greatness of the City of Cismarina) — began pressing the Governor and the other members of Parliament so that, once urbanization had been completed, the island would become a Neighborhood in its own right.

The Governor, seeing nothing contrary to the good of the City and perceiving no critical flaws in the ambitions of the proposal’s advocates, approved the request and commissioned the construction of the Headquarters of the Island Neighborhood on Day 6428, on the condition that the island would first provide itself with more buildings serving different purposes.

After several constructions — including a beautiful tower built in the Cismarine Gothic-Latin style already used for the Tower of the Solid — the request for recognition of Independent Neighborhood Status for Isola was formally submitted to Parliament and the Governor on Day 6434. It was approved four days later, on Day 6438, by the Parliament of Cismarina.

Gentile Bridge (Ponte Gentile)

Luigi Galli, 63rd, 6423

A stone bridge allowing passage across the river toward the Aggiunta Neighborhood, it is a unique work because it is built half over the river and half over the beach. The arches of the bridge are broad, allowing boats to navigate without difficulty. Its style unintentionally recalls the wide arches of London Bridge, despite its much shorter length.

Island Tavern (Taverna dell'Isola)

Luigi Galli, 63rd, 6429

One of the few recreational establishments in the entire Republic, the Tavern was conceived as a meeting place for the Island’s small population. Modest in both size and extension, it was built with optimized use of space on the southern side of the small Neighborhood’s territory.

The Little Tower of the Island (Torricciola dell'Isola)

Luigi Galli, 63rd, 6430

There is no Neighborhood without a focal point, and in this case attention is captured by the small tower built in the Cismarine Gothic-Latin style, a partial reduced-scale replica of the Tower of the Solid previously constructed in the Historic Center. The tower includes a staircase and an observation point.

Encircling Walls (Mura di Cinta)

Luigi Galli, 63rd, 6434

The Isola Neighborhood is the only Neighborhood in the Republic to have entirely surrounded itself with defensive walls. It is unclear why the inhabitants and defenders of the Neighborhood’s independent status are so protective of their territory, considering that they are completely encircled by the City of Cismarina and located only steps away from the Government Palace.