A trip to Ponza for a shorter or longer holiday, or to spend a whole day there, is always a must do! It all begins when you board the motorboat, ferry or hydrofoil, and try to find the best place to watch the open sea, the white wake left by the boats, the seagulls and, if you’re lucky, even the dolphins that keep you company for part of the way, with the sun and wind messing up your hair.
The hydrofoil crossing is short and, as you gradually get closer to the mainland, you can smell the island scents and see the enchanting pastel coloured houses, which make a bright setting for the lively cheerful and carefree life, where residents and tourists come together in a unicum of humanity.
Ponza
The 8 km of the island’s roads entice tourists to make use of easy fast means of transport such as scooters, electric bikes or plain bicycles that can be rented right on arrival. But you can also get around with taxis and buses that take scenic drives to the top of the village.
And what about the colourful comings and goings of quaint boats on short trips to take tourists to the beaches and then going back to get them again in the afternoon; or the small boats that, with a guide and a megaphone, take tourists around the island to admire the beauties of the characteristic rocks with fanciful names, and introduce the ancient history of the island, the beauty of its sea floor, a wealth of fauna and flora so extraordinary that it also captures the imaginations of divers.
Ponza – Costa
And speaking of unique and extraordinary settings to explore and discover, don’t miss the opportunity to go to Palmarola and experience the thrill of setting foot on a deserted island, and be enchanted by the crystal clear sea and wild nature of the place that Folco Quilici considered one of the most beautiful sea-swept lands on the planet.
The narrow streets that run through the island of Ponza around the port, during the day are filled with a bustle of people browsing through the small shops that sell crafts, souvenirs and clothes with hand-painted patterns, looking for something unique and special to put in their suitcases and take home with them.
Spaghetti con il fellone
The cuisine also reflects the flavour of the island, and it’s the daily catch that is most widely used: spaghetti with clams, tuna in oil, marinated anchovies, pasta with fellone crab, lobster linguine, fish soup and the typical “acqua pazza”, crazy water (which was once a fisherman’s only meal), but also the poor cuisine, which uses legumes such as lentils, grass peas and broad beans in tasty soups.
In the evening, the island transforms thanks to the night spots that stay open until late at night, becoming catalysts for the night life of young people and many others. And the beauty is that, the next morning, everything starts up again to the irresistible call of the sun and the sea.
Chiaia di Luna – Ponza
What do we recommend?
1) a visit to the Pilato Grottos, located in the southern area of the port, under the Ponza cemetery. It is an underground and underwater archaeological complex named in memory of an ancient legend of which Pontius Pilate was the protagonist.
The caves, perfectly excavated and carved out even below sea level, were almost certainly used to breed moray eels, a fish considered sacred by the Romans.
Fondale
2) The sea floor of Ponza has great variety and an enchanting beauty, a paradise for lovers of diving and underwater photography. Shaded walls, covered with gorgonias and red algae, posidonia meadows, masses and boulders carpeted with a varied marine flora, together with the fish fauna, offer a feast for the eyes.
Calette di Ponza
3) Ponza and its beautiful coves can be reached in most cases by boat. Cala Feola is the only sandy beach on the island and one of the most beautiful. In a unique landscape setting, it is protected by the hills of Capo Bosco and the mountain, Montagna della Corte, and is well suited to families with children. You’ll fall in love with its crystal clear waters and sea beds. You might be interested to know that this cove, until the 1940s, was inhabited by monk seals that came to winter there!
Shall we start with a swim to explore the depths of this enchanting place? We’ve already put on our mask and fins… Ready? Let’s go.