L'Île Rousse
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L'Île Rousse
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Some 400 years later (100 BC) - The Romans who had become the major power in the Mediterranean after the Phoenicians and the Greeks, founded a trading post on the site of Agila that they named Rubico Rocega. It became a supply point for fruit, meat and honey halfway between Rome and its colonies in the south of France and Spain.
Beteen 510 and 550 AD - During the reign of Eraclio, barbarians razed the trading post, and for several centuries silence fell once again on the area around the Ile Rousse. It was troubled only by the cries of villagers from Monticello, Santa Reparata, Occiglioni or Corbara who used the plain for crops or their herds. Otherwise, the only inhabitants lived near the small cove at Scalo. They were "landless" and lived entirely off fishing and bartering. The community was called Isolo d'Oro after the islonds. So the plain remained quiet after the destruction of the trading post by the barbarians. Papal troops, Pisans and then Genoese held sway over the site without building on it, living off the produce taken from the few farmers and fishermen who remained. In the 10th.century: The crew of boat coming from Santa Agata di Militello in Sicily, were saved from a storm by the cove of Fontanaccia on the large island, and built a chapel there in thanks, dedicated to their patron saint. The rector of the church of Santa Reparata subsequently became the owner of this chapel, the only religious monument in the entire valley, and he decreed that a procession should be held there each year on the 5th of February. The inhabitants of Scalo adopted this Sicilian patron saint as their own. It remained the patron saint of isola d'Oro and Scalo up until 1740, and the patron saint of the fishermen in Scalo until the end of the 19th century when Napolitan fishermen brought "their" saint Erasmus to the area in 1906.
In 1971 - Competition between two towns that are historically enemies was planned by the governing authorities. On the one hand Calvi has become a well-known tourist centre with amuch appreciated marina and airport. On the other hand Ile Rousse has become the centre for trade, the judicial system, economic activity and secondary education for the Balagne area, while at the same time keeping some tourist activity somewhat restricted by its smaller land area.
