Salvatore Tringali and his family

[Administrator]

Castellorizo's period of Italian rule (1921-1943) carried with it mixed fortunes for the island community. While the later years of Italian colonialism brought undoubted hardship for the local population, significant benefits came about from the early years of the occupation. In particular, the decade between 1925 and 1934 was characterised by considerable industry on the part of the occupying regime, especially in the aftermath of the March 1926 earthquake, which signalled a period of public construction and other infrastructural improvements for the islanders. Most notably, the installation of a public power supply and improved shipping links were important initiatives for the community at the beginning of the 1930s.

This period of Italian rule on Castellorizo is closely identified with the individual who represented the Italian Governor of the Dodecanese islands on the island. Salvatore Tringali (1876-1950) was until 1924 a senior finance bureaucrat based in Rhodes. In September of that year, he was posted to Patmos as delegato (delegate) of the Italian Governor. In March of the following year, he was transferred to Castellorizo, a post he was to retain until July 1934 when he and his family were transferred to Simi.

Tringali was an energetic and much-loved administrator of Castellorizo. He lived with his wife (Rosa) and two sons, Massimo & Renato, at the governor's residence in Pera Meria (on the site of the present hotel). Below is a photo of Tringali, his wife and youngest son Renato at the gates of their residence. One of the two pillars seen in this photo was still standing as recently as 2005 but has since been demolished.



Renato Tringali, the only surviving member of Salvatore's family, is now 87 years young and lives with his wife Alessandra and their family in Rome. They have visited Castellorizo in recent years and still retain a great fondness for the island and its people.

Nicholas

[Administrator]

Further to the above post, here is a photo from 1998 of all that stood of the Tringali gates. As mentioned earlier, this pillar has now been removed and no trace remains today of the residence of the Italian administrator of the island.



Nicholas

[CV]

Nick
just going through these photos with my mum - she is enjoying looking at them. this photo didn't - the Tringali family - isn't appearing for some reason. the Tringali's telephoned me about three weeks ago. they are well and Renato still dreams of returning to Kastellorizo. He has just turned 89 years old! Chrissie

[Administrator]

Further to previous posts, here is a photo of the Tringali residence as it looked in the late 1920s. This house, which had been owned by the Papalazarou family (a former mayor's family), had been converted by the Italian regime for use by its local governors but was demolished after the war to make way for the construction of the island's hotel.



The small boat in the right foreground was named Roma and was owned by the Tringali family and used by the governor's sons, Massimo and Renato, for recreational purposes. Close inspection will reveal a small Italian flag flying from its stern.

The small building at far right is the gazadhika which popular memory records was originally built as a church but, owing to restrictions of the then Ottoman regime, was never used for its intended purpose and instead relegated to use as a fuel storage facility, hence its name.

Nicholas

[Renato Tringali]

Dear Nick, my father, Renato Tringali, who is now 97 years young (!), just got to know about this forum and I just read him your article. He appreciated it very much and he wants to write his memories of his beautiful years in Kastellorizo, of which he always remembers and talks with much joy and love. As you know he got to go back to Kastellorizo for his 90th birthday, in 2010, and was very happy as Kastellorizo has always had a special place in his heart!

[david green]

And Renato passed on his love for Castellorizo to his English friend's too. We planned to visit with him and Alessandra but this was not to be. The plan is now to come with iIaria when ever the world allows us to!