Ponza
Latest update: 25 March 2023
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Situated 33 kilometres from the Italian mainland in the region of Lazio, Ponza is the central island of the Isole Pontine island group.
Consisting of six main islands, only two of which are permanently inhabited, the Pontine Islands are a popular holiday destination, particularly for Italians who can access Ponza by ferry or hydrofoil from a series of ports along Lazio's Tyrrhenian Coast. The closest point to Ponza on the Italian mainland is the Circeo Peninsula, which it lies directly south of. |
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Most visitors to the island arrive by ferry or hydrofoil at the main town: Ponza Port. The fastest route into the island from the mainland is via hydrofoil from the port of San Felice Circeo, a journey that takes around an hour. Crossings from San Felice Circeo and selected other mainland ports such as Terracina and Anzio are only available during the summer months but you can reach Ponza all year round by ferry from the port of Formia.
On arrival, you're met with the vista of Ponza's beautiful port area. Clusters of multi-coloured buildings line the harbour area; a place full of hustle and bustle as fishermen mingle with shop-owners and local residents, all going about their daily business. The port area is very much the cultural hub of the island and the place where you'll find the largest concentration of shops, bars and restaurants, along with a number of accommodation options.
The port is also an important place from which to organise your visit of the island which measures around 9 x 2. 4 kilometres at its widest point. This makes it just a little too big to really discover on foot so planning your transport for the day, or for the duration of your stay, is the first point to tackle. Around the port area you'll find places where you can rent cars, jeeps and scooters, but during the summer months, the most popular mode of transport is boat. There are dozens of boat rental companies where you can hire a dinghy or a gozzo (wooden boat) for the day to navigate your way around the edge of the island, exploring its little bays and beaches.
It's also possible to make your way around the island by bus; there's just one bus line which runs from the port at the south of the island, up to Punta dell'Incenso to the north, a journey that takes around half an hour in total. If your budget can stretch to a scooter then that's generally the best way to get around. The scooters are suitable for two passengers but if you're part of a larger group or family then one of the open-top cabriolet cars or jeeps is the best option.
Leaving the port area, you can take a car or scooter along the main road, the Via Panoramica Tre Venti, stopping first at the island's most iconic sight: Chiaia di Luna. The name roughly translates as "Crescent Moon" and you can see its full effect from a viewing area (belvedere) next to the main road. During the summer, the bay here is teeming with boats who come to get the best swimming spots in the beautiful azure water. Stunning natural sight that it is, the beach below the cliff is usually closed for safety reasons amid the threat of falling rocks, but the spectacle of the setting is not to be missed.
There are dozens of other bays and beaches dotted around the island, offering a combination of fascinating rock formations and crystalline waters inviting you to take a dip. Among the best beaches on the island are Cala Feola, Cala Fonte and the Piscine Naturali, while one of the largest beaches of all is the Frontone Beach which can be reached by a small boat from Ponza Port.
If you have rented a boat for the day, the first thing to do is slowly plot your way around the island's edges where you'll find a number of interesting geological features including the famous Grotte di Pilato sea caves. There are also a series of sea stacks such as the Faraglioni of Lucia Rosa and the Arco Naturale. The name Lucia Rosa occurs in several place names around the island and is in homage to the girl of the same name who, forced to marry a rich man against her wishes, threw herself into the sea and instantly became a martyr to many.
Renting a boat also provides the option of visiting some of the nearby islands with the most interesting of all, Palmarola. From the main road that runs across Ponza's spine you can see Palmarola to the west where it looks deceptively close but reaching it with a small rental boat can take longer than expected. Another option is to take one of the organised excursions to Palmarola while it's also possible to organise trips to the smaller islands of Zannone and Gavi.
Back on Ponza itself, there are some great places to hike, including the island's highest point: Monte Guardia. From Ponza Port you can climb away from the main town area and soon find yourself amongst nature with the fresh air, open spaces and wonderful panoramas at the southern tip of the island. You can also enjoy a similar experience, just from a different perspective, at the opposite end of the island with the Punto dell'Incenso Natural Park.
On arrival, you're met with the vista of Ponza's beautiful port area. Clusters of multi-coloured buildings line the harbour area; a place full of hustle and bustle as fishermen mingle with shop-owners and local residents, all going about their daily business. The port area is very much the cultural hub of the island and the place where you'll find the largest concentration of shops, bars and restaurants, along with a number of accommodation options.
The port is also an important place from which to organise your visit of the island which measures around 9 x 2. 4 kilometres at its widest point. This makes it just a little too big to really discover on foot so planning your transport for the day, or for the duration of your stay, is the first point to tackle. Around the port area you'll find places where you can rent cars, jeeps and scooters, but during the summer months, the most popular mode of transport is boat. There are dozens of boat rental companies where you can hire a dinghy or a gozzo (wooden boat) for the day to navigate your way around the edge of the island, exploring its little bays and beaches.
It's also possible to make your way around the island by bus; there's just one bus line which runs from the port at the south of the island, up to Punta dell'Incenso to the north, a journey that takes around half an hour in total. If your budget can stretch to a scooter then that's generally the best way to get around. The scooters are suitable for two passengers but if you're part of a larger group or family then one of the open-top cabriolet cars or jeeps is the best option.
Leaving the port area, you can take a car or scooter along the main road, the Via Panoramica Tre Venti, stopping first at the island's most iconic sight: Chiaia di Luna. The name roughly translates as "Crescent Moon" and you can see its full effect from a viewing area (belvedere) next to the main road. During the summer, the bay here is teeming with boats who come to get the best swimming spots in the beautiful azure water. Stunning natural sight that it is, the beach below the cliff is usually closed for safety reasons amid the threat of falling rocks, but the spectacle of the setting is not to be missed.
There are dozens of other bays and beaches dotted around the island, offering a combination of fascinating rock formations and crystalline waters inviting you to take a dip. Among the best beaches on the island are Cala Feola, Cala Fonte and the Piscine Naturali, while one of the largest beaches of all is the Frontone Beach which can be reached by a small boat from Ponza Port.
If you have rented a boat for the day, the first thing to do is slowly plot your way around the island's edges where you'll find a number of interesting geological features including the famous Grotte di Pilato sea caves. There are also a series of sea stacks such as the Faraglioni of Lucia Rosa and the Arco Naturale. The name Lucia Rosa occurs in several place names around the island and is in homage to the girl of the same name who, forced to marry a rich man against her wishes, threw herself into the sea and instantly became a martyr to many.
Renting a boat also provides the option of visiting some of the nearby islands with the most interesting of all, Palmarola. From the main road that runs across Ponza's spine you can see Palmarola to the west where it looks deceptively close but reaching it with a small rental boat can take longer than expected. Another option is to take one of the organised excursions to Palmarola while it's also possible to organise trips to the smaller islands of Zannone and Gavi.
Back on Ponza itself, there are some great places to hike, including the island's highest point: Monte Guardia. From Ponza Port you can climb away from the main town area and soon find yourself amongst nature with the fresh air, open spaces and wonderful panoramas at the southern tip of the island. You can also enjoy a similar experience, just from a different perspective, at the opposite end of the island with the Punto dell'Incenso Natural Park.
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Province: Latina
Region: Lazio Population: 3,301 (source: ISTAT January 2022) Size: 10 km² Highlights: Chiaia di Luna, Ponza Port, Cala Feola, Arco Naturale Recommended accommodation: Hotel Chiaia di Luna |
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Arrival port: Ponza Port
Journey time from mainland: 50 minutes (from Terracina) Distance from nearest mainland port: 48 km |
Arrive by: ferry, hydrofoil
Arrive from: Terracina, Anzio, Formia, Naples, Ventotene, Ischia Fly to: Rome Fiumicino Airport (117 km) |
