Crevan, a private island near Burano and Torcello, offers a converted fortress villa, manicured gardens and a helipad. According to the brochure, the asking price is €6,500,000.
An island in the Venice lagoon boasting a Napoleonic fort and lush gardens is up for sale.
Described as an “enchanting oasis of peace and beauty,” Crevan offers a “spectacular view” of Venice’s main island while remaining far from its crowds. It sits a few minutes by boat from Burano and Torcello and is just slightly smaller than a standard football pitch.
From military outpost to private retreat
Crevan was built in 1806 by the French military during the Napoleonic era as a strategic outpost to defend the northern Venetian lagoon from the Austrian empire. In 1815 the island fell under Austrian rule, before passing to the Italian state in 1866 following the annexation of Veneto to the Kingdom of Italy. It continued to serve a military purpose until after the First World War.
After years of neglect, the island was bought by a private owner and its buildings restored as residential properties. Its most prominent feature, the Napoleonic fort, has been converted into a small villa with four bedrooms, surrounded by manicured lawns, vegetable and fruit gardens, and trees. The island also has a private mooring along its small internal canal, and a helipad.
On the market with top agencies
Crevan has been listed for sale by several leading property agencies, including Lionard Luxury Real Estate and Dimora Italian Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International. The asking price is listed in a brochure as €6,5million.
“Crevan offers the privilege of withdrawing from the world without ever leaving the universal allure of Venice,” said Dimitri Corti, founder and chief executive of Lionard Luxury Real Estate, in a press release. “What one acquires is not simply a residence and a piece of land, but space, privacy and an entire landscape to preserve.”
Competition on the lagoon
Crevan is not the only Venetian island currently seeking a buyer. Isola Santa Cristina, which for decades belonged to the heir to the Swarovski crystal empire, was put on the market in June for around €24m. That property comes with a large villa, a saltwater swimming pool and vineyards.
An octagonal-shaped island near the Venice Lido, built in the 1500s as a defence post by the Republic of Venice, is also currently for sale.
