Coves and the beach of Chiaia di Luna
In the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Lazio, Ponza is the largest island of the Pontine archipelago, a thin crescent of volcanic rock about eight kilometres long, with steep cliffs of white, yellow and pink tuff, coves, sea caves, stacks and natural arches, surrounded by a sea of incredible colours, from turquoise to deep blue. The village of Ponza, overlooking the harbour, is a picturesque amphitheatre of pastel-coloured houses, built in the eighteenth century by the Bourbons, who repopulated the island with families from Ischia and Torre del Greco, whose dialect and traditions are still alive. The island was also a place of exile and confinement, from Roman times to the Fascist period.
The best way to discover Ponza is by boat, going around the island to explore its coves and caves: the Grotte di Pilato, Roman fishponds carved into the rock near the port, the Faraglioni di Lucia Rosa, linked to a romantic legend, the Cala Feola with its natural pools, the Arco Naturale and the bays of the north. The most famous beach, Chiaia di Luna, a crescent of sand under a towering wall of white tuff, is one of the most spectacular in Italy, but it has long been closed to the public due to the risk of rock falls, and can be admired from the sea or from the belvedere. From Ponza, boats take you to the nearby wild island of Palmarola, with its crystal-clear water and coloured rocks, considered one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.
Tip: rent a boat or take a tour around the island; spend a day at Palmarola; book the ferry in advance in summer.
Where it is
More things to see in Lazio
Where to stay near Ponza
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