Ponza Island and the Pontine Archipelago (Palmarola, Zannone, Gavi, Ventotene, Santo Stefano)
Introduction
One of the best-kept-secrets of Italy, Ponza is a volcanic island lying beyond the Gulf of Gaeta. While it is relatively unknown among many seasoned Italy travelers and even Italians, it is a favorite summer escape for both nature lovers, divers and the bella gente of Rome and Naples.
Surrounded by emerald and turquoise-colored, cristal clear waters, Ponza is most admired for its striking natural beauty. The white or blue-grey cliffs are either bordered by narrow beaches or drop abruptly into the sea. The unique, breathtaking scenery and nature is best admired from the sea, both above and underwater.
The small village of Ponza at the souteast end of the island consists of a small, pittoresque harbour surrounded by a semi-circle of typical cheerily painted houses. While restaurants, cafés and small boutiques line up along the central promenade facing the sea, they have not spoiled the typical atmosphere of the island.
Ponza is a miracle: a sizeable island which has managed to stay virtually intact despite the fact that it is only about sixty miles from Italy's capital Rome. As it has no airport and is accessible only by boat, it has been relatively well preserved and unblemished by mass tourism and jetsetters.
While Ponza may have an upscale feel about it due to the presence of yachts around the island, the island's style is resolutely simple and low-key. No 5-star hotels or fashionable nightclubs, nor high-end shopping here. The only exception are one or two gourmet fish restaurants, but even here the atmosphere is definitely relaxed and family-friendly and that is how the Ponzese people like to keep it.
While the port and center of the island are accesible by ferry and boat, most of the breathtaking, unspoiled beaches are only accesible by sea, requiring a small motor or rubber boat, as the larger sail boats and yachts need to remain at a reasonable safety distance due to the presence of sand banks and rocks. The wisdom of the inhabitants of Ponza has done the rest.
This explains why Ponza's unique beauty is most appreciated by nature lovers, divers, Italian food lovers and true sailors at heart, and less by the typical yacht or glittering show-off crowds. While you will see quite a few impressive yachts dropping anchor around the island, their passengers remain discrete, appreciating the peace and anonymity they can find in Ponza like nowhere else.
The Pontine archipelago consists of six islands: Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone, Gavi, Ventotene and Santo Stefano. All islands are of volcanic origin, except Zannone which has sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Only Ponza and Ventotne are large enough to offer accommodation possibilities and regular ferry connections. The other islands can be visited in boat from the larger islands.
Photos of the YourGuidetoItaly.com banner (from left to right): (on campus) Sean Locke, (red deckchair) Valentina Jori, (chianti botlle) Donald Gruener, (Vitruvian man) Jodie Coston, (coliseum), Roberto A Sanchez, (Fiat 500) Luca di Filippo.
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When to visit Ponza ?
The best time to visit Ponza is May, June, September, avoiding July and August as the island can become pretty crowded by day-tourists flocking from Rome and Formia.
Even in June it is best to avoid the week-ends planning your stay anywhere from Tuesday to Friday. We recommend spending a minimum of two nights and three days to have enough time to visit the island from the inside and from the sea.
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There is a small restaurant on Palmarola that can be reached only by boat. To the northeast, Zannone is a nature reserve with quiet hikes, dense forests, and wild sheep running free.
Palmarola and Zannone are classic day trips from Ponza, each just 30 minutes away by boat. To the west, Palmarola is a protected nature reserve, particularly popular among divers.
Its turquoise seas and splendid coves, can compete with those of islands in the South Pacific or the Caribbean.
Getting to and around Ponza
Access from Anzio or Formia (ferry 2hr30min, or aliscafo 1hr10min) or from Terracina (ferry 2 hrs). Once in Ponza you can rent a small motorboat to discover the coast around the island as well as the other pontine islands. Another option is to rent a sail boat or small yacht for your trip to Ponza and your stay there.
