History hints

The history of the territory around Rosolina dates back to ancient times. The area was dominated by the Romans, by the Barbarians and eventually it became part of the Republic of Venice.

The whole area takes its origin from the floods of the XII century and from the natural change in the course of the River Po, which diverted to the south between 1600 and 1604 when the Taglio in Porto Viro took place. The area around Rosolina is therefore an alluvial soil elongating between some stretches of water and the island. The entire area was very much exploited by the Republic of Venice. It was the government of the Republic which put that area up for auction.

From that moment onwards the island experienced some major natural catastrophes and floods. Albarella passed then from one owner to the other, among them noble families and well-off people.

Counts Vianelli sold the island in 1941 to Mr. Roberto Scagliarini, a knight, who deeply loved this land and lived for a long time on the island with his family.

In 1959 he saw himself compelled to sell it because of the numerous floods. New owners of the island were the Pasotto brothers, wealthy businessmen from Verona who, after few years, in 1960, sold the island mainly because of the problems they were facing at managing the territory. They sold it to the Count Augusto Chiericati.
He was very busy looking after his business and so he asked his lawyer, Dott. Armando Pedrazzini, to take care of the island.
It was then that the lawyer Mr. Pedrazzini started to consider a tourist project to be carried out on the island. Count Chiericati, perhaps discouraged by the disastrous situation, rejected the project and left Albarella.
Lawyer Pedrazzini did not give up and got in touch with some international investors looking for support. He founded the company “Albarella Sas by Armando Pedrazzini - Achille Bianchi & C” whose capital had been completely allocated by the company Albarella Beach Holding A.G., having its seat in Zurich.

These two companies were about to create one of the best examples ever of international tourist development. The Alabarella Island Development Company (Alideco S.A., located in Chiasso) was then asked to put forward a tourist development program for the island. The ALBARELLA PROJECT was officially presented in 1967 at the Chamber of Commerce in Rovigo. The project was composed of four steps (see section “Albarella project” for further details). The first step of the project, focusing on the building of the first 500 houses, had not been completed yet and still some additional funds were urgently required to continue the planned constructions. Those funds had to be found by the end of 1968. Mr Pedrazzini, after several unsuccessful attempts, was lucky enough to find the precious cooperation by the Board of Directors of Swiss Credit. Swiss Credit saved the situation by purchasing all the houses, which were still unsold.
In 1969 within the general assembly of the owners of “Albarella Units” the foundation of a Club and of its ruling bodies is officially stated.

In 1972 the island is ready. Life on the island gets interesting and amusing thanks to some initiatives, to some important and famous guests and thanks to the creation of a new area called “The Fjords”.
In 1976, once the project for the Fjords had been completed and in a climate of tensions, criticism and disputes, the lawyer Mr. Predazzini left the island.
At this point, Swiss Credit, being already very much involved in the project with significant financial support, decided to buy the island.

In 1977, Dott. Marcus Alfred Banz, a manager of Swiss Credit, arrived to the island with the task of implementing new strategies. In 1980 new investments were made in the East area of the island where any activity had been blocked for a very long time. The island “grew”; it adjusted its accommodation facilities and services thus obtaining approval and praise from all over Europe.
In 1982, Mr Dott. Gilberto Benvenuti was chosen by Swiss Credit as the right man to run and manage that very activity the most important European Credit Institute was boasting about.
Albarella was then given a new identity and turned into a “tailor made” non exclusive island where everyone can see his/her needs fulfilled. The island became an important reference for free time activities, sport and culture.
1988 was characterized by a major event, a kind of turning point in the history of Albarella: “the lion from Mantova", Mr. Steno Marcegaglia, purchased the whole block of shares of Albarella Spa.