For Sale: A Private Island in the Venetian Lagoon with a Napoleonic Fort Turned Villa

Private Island Crevan Listed on the Market

According to УНІАН — Туризм: An island in the Venetian Lagoon has gone up for sale, featuring a historic fort built under Napoleon and later converted into a villa. The private island of Crevan spans 5,700 square meters and lies 7.5 km northeast of Venice, not far from Sant'Erasmo. Constructed in 1806 by French forces during the Napoleonic era, the fort occupied a strategic position meant to defend the lagoon's northern areas from the Austrian Empire. Such a combination of historical architecture and separation from Venice makes the island an unusual proposition.

The Fort's History and Features

After restoration, the 215-square-meter fort now serves as a private villa with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Dimitri Corti, founder and chief executive of Lionard Luxury Real Estate, said: “Crevan allows someone to escape the world while still staying close to Venice’s timeless appeal.” He added that the buyer would acquire “not just a home and plot of land, but a space, privacy, and an entire landscape that needs to be preserved.” The island also includes a private berth on an inner canal and its own helipad.

The fort remained a military post until 1815, when Crevan came under Austrian control. Following Veneto's annexation to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, the outpost passed into Italian state ownership. Crevan continued to serve military purposes for some time after World War I. The asking price has not been disclosed by the selling agencies, Lionard Luxury Real Estate and Dimora Italian Real Estate; it is available on request.

• Crevan is a private island covering 5,700 m²
• The fort has been converted into a four-bedroom villa
• Features include a private dock and a helipad

Separately, a village in Thuringia, Germany, is also on the market: it covers 24,000 square meters, includes 15 buildings, and is priced at €390,000. The sale has drawn attention because the village costs about the same as an apartment.

The Crevan listing highlights a growing demand for distinctive real estate in historically significant places such as Venice, likely driven by affluent buyers seeking exclusive retreats. At the same time, the German village offering illustrates the range of property choices in Europe, potentially appealing to investors looking for alternatives to conventional urban housing. Buyers interested in such properties are often looking for both privacy and a lasting historical asset.