Italy Vacation: What Makes Ponza So Special

Beautiful colors, romantic legends, and wonderful Mediterranean cuisine can be found on the island of Ponza. If you love relaxing or taking a leisurely dive, this is the place for you.

It inspired poets and is the perfect destination for an island vacation in Italy: the small island of Ponza. Free of high-rise hotels, the island, located between Naples and Rome, about 30 miles from the mainland, serves as an ideal spot for individual travelers.

Ponza is the main island of the Pontine Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island is perfect for relaxing and hiking, and its crystal-clear sea is one of its trademarks. But that's just the beginning.

In the harbor of Ponza, fishing boats lie beside yachts and sailboats. The houses shine in blue, pink, and sandy colors, welcoming newcomers from afar. And that's just the beginning of the island's color display: The sea around Ponza glows green, aquamarine, and turquoise. Underwater, the spectacle continues with colorful fish, making diving at Ponza a true highlight.

Brightly shining tuff cliffs by the sea, blooming oleander, heather, bright yellow gorse, fragrant myrtle, and the unreal beautiful light when the sun sets, make the volcanic island a place of inspiration. 'Between bougainvillea and explosions of gorse, I lose myself in the beauty of these sunsets and find my paradise on Earth,' poetically summarized by the Italian poet and Nobel laureate Eugenio Montale in his love for Ponza.

Many beaches on Ponza invite you to swim. For a long time, the Spiaggia Chiaia di Luna, or Moonlight Bay, was one of the island's most popular coves. It was only accessible through a Roman tunnel. Due to the risk of rockslides, this access is now closed. However, you can still get a breathtaking view of the bay from the water and soak in the magic of the place. At the harbor, you'll find plenty of offers for discovery tours around the island.

A refreshing dip in the turquoise blue water is also offered by the Piscine Naturali, natural pools framed by rocks, creating a swimming pool-like area. The small crescent-shaped bay of Cala Fonte not only offers views of the neighboring island of Palmarola, but here you can also enjoy spectacular sunsets and discover pools carved into the rocks used as lobster breeding grounds.

In Ponza, it seems almost every place is filled with legends. One tells of the rock formation 'Faraglioni di Lucia Rosa'. The viewpoint above the beach of the same name is said to be named after a young woman from the 19th century who leaped off the cliffs here out of heartbreak.

According to legend, Ponza was also home to the sorceress Circe, who transformed unwelcome visitors to the island into animals. When Odysseus lands on Ponza during his odyssey, she turns his companions into pigs and locks them in a pen. You can dive deep into Greek mythology while exploring the Circe Grotto.

Remarkable on Ponza are the many curious names for coves and cliffs. The 'Stumme's Pants,' for example, refers to a rock formation named after a mute sailor who threw his pants on a rock when admiring Ponza's beautiful scenery, which then took on their shape.

Lastly, the island's own name is also wrapped in legend. One story suggests that the name Ponza comes from Pontius Pilate, who is said to have lived here. The Pilate caves carved into the tuff rock are a sight to see.

The exceptionally clear waters around Ponza make the island a dream spot for divers, as there's much to discover just a few meters below the surface. Caves and a diverse underwater world, including corals, moray eels and groupers, octopuses, scorpionfish, and sea breams, await exploration. In April 2021, even a young gray whale was spotted. An adventurous highlight is exploring long-sunken shipwrecks.

Hiking is also wonderfully possible on Ponza. There are several hiking trails offering indescribable views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The path lined with prickly pears leads you to the island's lighthouse. Or you can hike from Ponza's harbor to Mount Monte Guardia, the highest point of the island, before proceeding along vineyards to the steep cliff of Punta del Fieno.

White cubed tuna with citrus and fennel salad? Or perhaps linguine all'Aragosta? On Ponza, you're dining on the best seafood cuisine. And most importantly, it's fresh. Two of the island's restaurants even boast a Michelin star.

Fresh cuisine and great views are offered by many restaurants on Ponza. With a wonderful view of the island and the sea, you dine on the terrace of the restaurant Casa di Assunta, where some dishes are prepared right at your table. Lentil soup also has a tradition on Ponza. At Ristorante da Gerardo, it is considered a house specialty along with pea soup.

The island is often described as being like Capri, only without the tourists. Ponza is mostly visited by Italian tourists, and unlike other destinations, the Italian language still dominates here. Since there are no large hotels, tourists live side by side with locals.

The capital is wonderfully authentic as well. Built like an amphitheater, Ponza is essentially a fishing village. You can relax and watch the colorful hustle and bustle of the fishermen in Ponza's harbor. After tourism, fishing is still an important source of income on the island. You can admire and purchase the fruits of their labor at the weekly market.

The island always exudes this wonderful tranquility. Only on June 20, when the feast of the island's patron saint San Silverio is celebrated, does the island get crowded. A statue of the saint is carried on a boat through the streets and eventually transferred to a beautifully decorated boat. Followed by hundreds of boats, it heads out to sea.

In the high season, you can reach Ponza by sea from Naples, San Felice Circeo, Terracina, Formia, and Anzio. The trip from Naples takes about three hours, while from Terracina it's only about an hour and a quarter.

By the way: Ponza is so relaxed partly because only locals are allowed to drive cars on the island during the summer. Bringing your own car or renting one is not an option for tourists in the summer.

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