Sapientza

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Administrative Region : Peloponnese
Regional unit : Messinia

Sapientza or Sapienza (Σαπιέντζα) is a Greek island off the southern coast of the Peloponnese, near the city of Methóni.[1] It is administratively part of the municipality of Pylos-Nestor, in Messenia. The 2011 census reported a population of two inhabitants. Sapientza is the second largest island of the Messenian Oinousses, a small group island which consists of three small islands (Schiza, Sapientza and Agia Marina). Its name is of Italian origin and means wisdom. The Calypso Deep, the deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea at 5,267 metres (17,280 ft), is located south-west of Sapientza.

Description

The island has seen many shipwrecks because it is located over the main sea route between Italy and the Middle East. Some of the wrecks carried important cargo, such as a Toman wreck that carried granite columns from the peristyle of Herod's temple in Caesarea Maritima.[2] In the south of the island there is an important lighthouse built in 1885. Its height is 8 meters.[3] Sapientza has lush vegetation with dense shrubland and perennial hollies, arbutus and other Mediterranean plants. For this reason, Sapientza and the other Messenian Oinousses have been included in the Natura 2000 Network, with code GR2550003.[2][4]

History

Sapientza is known for the Treaty of Sapienza in 1209, between the Republic of Venice and the Principality of Achaea. With this treaty Methoni and Corone remained under Venetian rule and the remainder of the Peloponnese was ceded to Villehardouin. After the Greek War of Independence, Sapienza became a part of the Greek state. Nevertheless, the British claimed Sapienza during the Pacifico case, as part of United States of the Ionian Islands.
Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1991 4 —
2001 7 +75.0%
2011 2 −71.4%
References

Google (24 December 2014). "Sapientza" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
"The Isle of Sapientza". pylos.info. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
"Lighthouse Sapienza". faroi.com. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
"Messinian Oinousses, Schiza and Sapientza". cvf.gr. Retrieved 26 February 2015.