Gorgona Agricultural Penal Colony also home to a vegetable garden and olive tree grove where olive oil is produced, as well as livestock facilities which high quality cheese, chicken and pork is produced. The island is named after the Gorgons of Greek mythology which were three sisters, Medusa, Stheno and Euryale, who had hair made of venomous snakes that could turn any observer into stone. Since the 4th century AD, Gorgona has been home to various monastic orders including the Benedictines until it finally came under the influence of the Carthusians in the 14th century. Eventually the Gorgona Abbey was abandoned in 1425 though
Erebia euryale year as a caterpillar. The eggs, pearly grey, hatch in the spring. Adults fly from June to September. They feed at mountain flowers, specially at yellow daisies. Caterpillars feed on various grasses ("Anthoxanthum odoratum", "Brachypodium sylvaticum", "Deschampsia cespitosa", "Festuca ovina", "Festuca rubra", "Festuca alpina", "Poa nemoralis", "Carex flacca", "Digitaria", "Milium", "Carex" and "Sesleria" species). Erebia euryale Erebia euryale, the large ringlet, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. Subspecies include: This species is endemic to Europe. It can be found in southern Europe, in the Alps, Cantabrian, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans, in northern Europe from Finland to the