Arcadia Italy

 BY ILARIA D'ONOFRIO, PROGRAM ASSISTANT, SUMMER 2018

Called in Italian Isole Pontine or Isole Ponziane, they are an archipelago of 5 different island: Ponza, Ventotene, Zannone, Gavi and last but not least Palmarola. They are all placed in the Tyrrhenian sea, the one that flows through the east and central coast of Italy.

Their history is very ancient. Thanks to archaeological studies they were found trace of Neolithic artifacts, objects made thousands of years BC, but it was the Etruscan who actually made use of the islands and their Blue grottos. Then the first residential expansion (mainly on Ponza and Ventotene) occurred during the Roman emperor, because Roman used them as refuges during military attacks or places to send politically problematic people to exile. Currently the islands which are populated are the biggest one, Ponza and Ventotene, while the littlest one still remain uninhabited. Let’s now talk about the beauty of these islands, the features that make them great places to visit during the summer. 

First of all the sea. The coast of these Islands, especially Ponza, is very peculiar and varied. So you will be able to choose between large comfortable beaches of sand and tiny portion of cliff, where you can leave your stuff and plunge directly to the sea. The thing that both of this coast share is the amazing sea: clean, light blue and full of sea life. 

Then we can’t overlook the sea caves that characterize those Island and that you can easily visit by boat. For example, we have the Grotta Azzurra, a sea cave complex in Ponza which, thanks to the light that come from some cracks of the rock, it makes you feel like you’re swimming in an silver-blue water, in a cave illuminated from the sea-bottom. For the people who love scuba diving in Ventotene there is Punta Pascone a place with a huge cave underwater called Secca dell'Archetto, full of sea life and corals. If you like more dynamic and naturalistic excursion you can’t miss a visit to Palmarola or Santo Stefano, fully uninhabited. Walking though the rocks and forests you’ll get the chance to see lots of animals and have the feeling of being in an age where humans haven’t even born yet.

In the end, after a long day exploring and swimming into the sea, you can spend your night strolling down the typical harbors of the Islands, where you’ll find lots of restaurants, ice-cream parlors and café. Eating a delicious mixed fried-fish in a restaurant with a pretty view over the sea is the best way to end your perfect journey.