The Tabarchian Epic: A Genoese Adventure in the Mediterranean

A fascinating multi-century story that began in Genoa in 1542, when three hundred fishermen from Pegli colonized the small Tunisian island of Tabarka, transforming it into the most important coral fishing center in the Mediterranean. After centuries of peaceful coexistence, the community faced periods of slavery and diaspora, establishing three new island communities: Carloforte and Calasetti in Sardinia, Nueva Tabarca in Spain. These extraordinary enclaves keep alive Ligurian traditions and the Tabarchino dialect, a unique linguistic heritage candidate for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Marco Bonetti, an expert in Ligurian history and culture around the world, retraces this epic that spans four countries and two continents.