A Napoleonic island in the Venetian lagoon goes on sale

An island in the Venice lagoon, described in the foreign press as an 'enchanting oasis of peace and beauty', has been put up for sale. Crevan, which is smaller than a football pitch, carries a Napoleonic fort and lush gardens, and offers a 'spectacular view' of Venice, according to the Guardian's report this week.

The sale of Crevan lands at a sensitive moment for the lagoon, where the balance between preservation and private interest is a constant theme of international coverage. The island's new owner would take on not just a historic fortification but a slice of the same waterscape that draws millions of visitors each year.

Details of the asking price remain strictly under wraps, the Guardian notes, leaving the market to guess at the value of a private island within sight of one of the world's most photographed skylines.