The geographer Strabo mentions that the first inhabitants of the islands were sirens, long before the appearance of Russian dancers. These cunning hunters of travelers, who nearly deprived Penelope of her husband returning home from war, lived on three rocks near the Apennine Peninsula.

For many years, the archipelago was called the "Islands of the Sirens," and only the warlike Saracens were not afraid to approach these shores. By the early 20th century, the legends had faded, the name changed to Li Galli, and the islands, uninhabitable and unsuitable for swimming, ceased to attract attention. Everything changed in 1917 when dancer Leonid Myasin arrived in Positano, the closest town to the archipelago.

He was touring Italy with the ballet "Parade" (music by Erik Satie, libretto by Jean Cocteau) and accepted an invitation from writer Mikhail Semenov to stay with him in Positano. It was from there that Myasin first noticed the rocky ridges of Li Galli, one of which had a tower and other signs of human presence.

The dancer was told the legend involving sirens, Odysseus, and Saracens, which further ignited his interest. Learning that the islands were deserted, he became eager to acquire them. After several years of negotiations with local authorities, he succeeded in 1924.

Myasin settled on the largest island, Gallo-Lungo, where, apart from the ruins of a Saracen tower, there was little suitable for living. However, the choreographer displayed an unexpected talent for development. Thanks to his efforts, the island saw the arrival of an electric generator, a large reception house (Villa Grande), a small guest house, fountains, a garden, a vegetable patch, and vineyards. The tower was restored, equipped with dance studios and rooms for students.

Determined to spend as much time on the island as possible, the dancer envisioned a summer dance school. He wanted to build a theater, but the foundation was washed away several times by waves.

Years passed between work and a quiet family life. In the mid-1930s, architect Le Corbusier visited Myasin. Assessing the dancer's holdings, he offered his assistance in remodeling the buildings and improving the island.

A swimming pool with a view of the other islands of the archipelago appeared on Gallo-Lungo, and the modest guest house transformed into an aristocratic villa. Pristine white inside, decorated exclusively with views from the windows, it was named "The White House."

After Leonid Myasin's death in 1979, the family hesitated for some time about selling the island, but its upkeep proved too burdensome.

Fortunately, a worthy buyer emerged. Leonid Myasin Jr., known as Lorca, danced at the Paris Grand Opera. The head of the ballet troupe, Rudolf Nureyev, who admired his father's work, persuaded the son to sell the island. "This place will inspire me," said the dancer. At that time, he was unaware of his HIV diagnosis given in 1985 and that he would soon be unable to perform on stage.

Nureyev approached the island's development with the same energy that amazed in his dance. Myasin's style seemed too austere to him, and he envisioned a grand redesign of the interiors.

At his direction, numerous mosaics and ceramic tiles were delivered to the island, which he personally selected to decorate the walls. From his travels, the dancer brought back antique furniture and dishes. "The White House," the main villa, and the tower transformed into luxurious Eastern palaces, bright and extravagant, like the sets for his last ballet "La Bayadère."

Numerous guests recall that Nureyev did not appear to be dying, despite the presence of paparazzi and admirers. He worked as long as he could, despite coughing and fever, passionately engaged in interior design, sunbathing, and riding around the island on a jet ski. Nureyev believed that the sun and work could heal him. They helped, but only for a time. After his death in 1993, the island, formally belonging to his foundation, remained deserted for several years.

Famous Italian hotelier Giovanni Russo stumbled upon it by chance. "Actually, I wanted to buy a yacht," he recounts. "But the lira had fallen sharply in value, and the chosen model became too expensive. At the same time, a lawyer friend dealing with Nureyev's estate informed me that Li Galli was for sale. I had just enough money for them." Some more funds and time were spent on restoration, completing the previous owners' plans, and adapting to modern comfort standards.

With a purification system, solar panels, a vegetable garden, a garden, a chicken coop, and a fishing dock, the island became a small autonomous paradise. Russo himself can hardly believe his luck: "Every time I approach the islands by yacht, I think: 'Can this really belong to me?'"