It is one of the most remote addresses on the planet […]
The long-awaited film “Napoelão” will premiere on Thursday, November 23, which is expected to go down in cinematic history as one of the most dynamic battle sequences ever filmed.
Known for classics such as “Alien”, “Blade Runner” and “Thelma and Louise”, director Ridley Scott returns to the set with this historical epic about the tireless struggle for power of Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) and his relationship with the true love of the French Emperor by Josephine (Vanessa Kirby).
But if the French emperor’s life was one of conquest and prestige, his last years of life were of isolation, in one of the most remote addresses on the planet.
watch web history on the Viagem em Pauta website
Nearly six years before his death, Napoleon spent a period of isolation on the island of St. Helena, a British overseas territory that served as a natural fortress, five days by ship from Cape Town, South Africa.
Just to give you an idea, the closest piece of land is Ascension Island, in the South Atlantic, 1,125 km away. South America is 2,900 km away.
There could be no better place for a prisoner like Napoleon to go into exile.
Isolated in a house in the Longwood neighborhood, after being defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, the French leader remained under the gaze of British soldiers until his death from stomach cancer in 1821.
Napoleon
Currently, the island of St. Helena has the history of Bonaparte as a major tourist attraction, right on its doorstep.
On a plateau unprotected from the island’s violent winds stands Longwood House, the soldier’s last home, a comfortable house with two bedrooms, bathroom, balcony, dining and living room, pool table and library.
In fact, it is said, Napoleon made two holes, one of which in the prison shutter to monitor the movements of the soldiers outside.
It was there that the Frenchman also took the opportunity to dictate his memoirs, design the famous garden that still surrounds the house today and take care of the private vegetable garden, the surpluses of which were shared with the English.
Although his remains are located under the dome of the Palace of the Invalids, in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte can be remembered on the island in a crypt, also open to the public, surrounded by 12 cypress trees in memory of the 12 years of the Napoleonic wars.
After a long negotiation with the United Kingdom, France acquired the two properties linked to Napoleon’s history and, since 1858, has maintained a French representative on the island to manage the properties.
Tourism in St. Helena
In the words of the scientist Charles Darwin, who was on St. Helena during his famous voyage around the world between 1831 and 1836, the island is like a black castle that “rises suddenly out of the ocean.”
Tourism is still modest, around four thousand visitors a year, according to statistics released by the government island.
In addition to the Napoleon itinerary, rare visitors also enjoy tourist activities such as diving and snorkeling in waters with visibility of up to 40 metres, as well as 21 trail options ranging in length from 1.5km to 12km.
Due to the isolation, products on the island are often imported due to shipping costs. So prepare your pockets for higher prices than in the United Kingdom and South Africa, in fact some products may have limitations and even suffer from shortages.
It’s really difficult to face the wind.
On this volcanic island the winds are so strong that the first commercial air operation only took place in 2017, when an Embraer 190 demonstrated that it could cope with the wind.
How to get
The fastest way are flights between Johannesburg, South Africa, and Jamestown, the capital of St. Helena.
Duration 6h25m, the flight Air connection makes a technical stop in Walvis Bay, Namibia, and costs approximately R$4,500, for departures in January 2024.
Another option is ships that dock on the island during the cruise season, between October and April.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
