Drago Nicastro (May 2, 1277 - October 7, 1307) was an Italian explorer who was the first known visitor to Meridona in 1307.
Nicastro was born in Campobasso, Italy. His father, Antoneo, was a renowned sculptor who was close with the ruling Gambatesa family. Historians, however, discovered evidence in 2008 that proved it was actually Drago’s mother, Simona, who was the true artist. Desperate to keep her family’s social standing, she worked in total secrecy, allowing her husband to receive the praise.
From a young age, Nicastro proved to be an exceptional, though troublesome, student. By 15, he had mastered several languages and caught the eye of Alessio Franzese, a relative of the Gambatesas and world traveller who convinced Nicastro to join him in his travels. While in the seaside town of Termoli, Nicastro was first introduced to sailing and quickly grew fond of the maritime lifestyle.
By the age of 25, Nicastro had purchased his own small ship, the San Fortunatas, hired a highly-skilled crew, and travelled extensively throughout the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Nicastro spent a good deal of his time carrying out archaeological and cultural studies in the Maldives. While there, he converted to Islam, infuriating his devoutly Christian crew and paving the road for his demise.
While attempting to sail to Sri Lanka, the San Fortunatas was blown off course in a windstorm. With the ship nearly out of food and water, Nicastro discovered the island of Meridona in the last years of one of its worst droughts in history. With most of the island’s creek beds dried up, most wildlife had retreated deep within island, protected by it’s difficult terrain. Nicastro and his crew spent 3 weeks on the island, finding little food and water. Their search was made even more difficult when Nicastro became sick after drinking from one of the creeks and forbid any more water to be collected from, what he believed, was the island’s tainted supply.
With morale on a steep decline and already short on water, the San Fortunatas departed from Meridona. Out of sight of the island, it was met by a dense fog. The heavy, overcast clouds brought none of the rain the crew so badly needed, and made celestial navigation impossible. When the ship emerged from the fog nearly a week later, it was once again lost at sea.
Holding Nicastro responsible for their predicament, the crew planned a mutiny. In the late night hours of October 7th, 1307, two members of Nicastro’s crew broke into his captain’s quarters and knocked him unconscious. When he awoke, he was tied to his dining table and surrounded by his crew. At first furious at the crew for carrying out the mutiny, Nicastro grew increasingly nervous as he watched Donato, a particularly insane deckhand known for biting off fish heads, approaching the table armed with a cleaver in each hand.
Drunk on their former captain’s private rum stash, the crew of the San Fortunatas dined like kings, and were never heard from again.
The San Fortunatas was found several years later off the shore of what is now Promontoria near primitive structures that were assumed to have been built by it’s crew. Detailed maps of the island, as well as studies into its flora and fauna were found inside, but no other evidence of their presence was ever discovered. Records found on the ship reveal a detailed account of Drago Nicastro’s grisly demise, giving historians insight into the story of the San Fortunatas, but the crew’s seemingly sudden disappearance remains a mystery.
Despite his gruesome death, Drago Nicastro has become a legendary figure throughout Meridona. The island’s highest mountain range is named after Nicastro, and every May 2nd, Meridonans celebrate a Day of Discovery in his honor. Fortunatas Mountain features a carving of his ship, with Nicastro standing on the bow guiding it’s direction. The sculpture, blasted with dynamite by a crew led by sculptor Hector Bristo, took 26 years to complete and measures a towering 110 feet tall and spans 60 feet across.
Some Meridonans find the praise of Nicastro to be ill-placed, believing that his discovery of Meridona was purely by accident, and that he did nothing to benefit the island’s progress, leaving after only 3 weeks.
Nicastro was born in Campobasso, Italy. His father, Antoneo, was a renowned sculptor who was close with the ruling Gambatesa family. Historians, however, discovered evidence in 2008 that proved it was actually Drago’s mother, Simona, who was the true artist. Desperate to keep her family’s social standing, she worked in total secrecy, allowing her husband to receive the praise.
From a young age, Nicastro proved to be an exceptional, though troublesome, student. By 15, he had mastered several languages and caught the eye of Alessio Franzese, a relative of the Gambatesas and world traveller who convinced Nicastro to join him in his travels. While in the seaside town of Termoli, Nicastro was first introduced to sailing and quickly grew fond of the maritime lifestyle.
By the age of 25, Nicastro had purchased his own small ship, the San Fortunatas, hired a highly-skilled crew, and travelled extensively throughout the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Nicastro spent a good deal of his time carrying out archaeological and cultural studies in the Maldives. While there, he converted to Islam, infuriating his devoutly Christian crew and paving the road for his demise.
While attempting to sail to Sri Lanka, the San Fortunatas was blown off course in a windstorm. With the ship nearly out of food and water, Nicastro discovered the island of Meridona in the last years of one of its worst droughts in history. With most of the island’s creek beds dried up, most wildlife had retreated deep within island, protected by it’s difficult terrain. Nicastro and his crew spent 3 weeks on the island, finding little food and water. Their search was made even more difficult when Nicastro became sick after drinking from one of the creeks and forbid any more water to be collected from, what he believed, was the island’s tainted supply.
With morale on a steep decline and already short on water, the San Fortunatas departed from Meridona. Out of sight of the island, it was met by a dense fog. The heavy, overcast clouds brought none of the rain the crew so badly needed, and made celestial navigation impossible. When the ship emerged from the fog nearly a week later, it was once again lost at sea.
Holding Nicastro responsible for their predicament, the crew planned a mutiny. In the late night hours of October 7th, 1307, two members of Nicastro’s crew broke into his captain’s quarters and knocked him unconscious. When he awoke, he was tied to his dining table and surrounded by his crew. At first furious at the crew for carrying out the mutiny, Nicastro grew increasingly nervous as he watched Donato, a particularly insane deckhand known for biting off fish heads, approaching the table armed with a cleaver in each hand.
Drunk on their former captain’s private rum stash, the crew of the San Fortunatas dined like kings, and were never heard from again.
The San Fortunatas was found several years later off the shore of what is now Promontoria near primitive structures that were assumed to have been built by it’s crew. Detailed maps of the island, as well as studies into its flora and fauna were found inside, but no other evidence of their presence was ever discovered. Records found on the ship reveal a detailed account of Drago Nicastro’s grisly demise, giving historians insight into the story of the San Fortunatas, but the crew’s seemingly sudden disappearance remains a mystery.
Despite his gruesome death, Drago Nicastro has become a legendary figure throughout Meridona. The island’s highest mountain range is named after Nicastro, and every May 2nd, Meridonans celebrate a Day of Discovery in his honor. Fortunatas Mountain features a carving of his ship, with Nicastro standing on the bow guiding it’s direction. The sculpture, blasted with dynamite by a crew led by sculptor Hector Bristo, took 26 years to complete and measures a towering 110 feet tall and spans 60 feet across.
Some Meridonans find the praise of Nicastro to be ill-placed, believing that his discovery of Meridona was purely by accident, and that he did nothing to benefit the island’s progress, leaving after only 3 weeks.
