Sightseeing by boat........with Divaluna a guide to the Pontine Archipelago by Emanuela Siciliani

This guide is designed to bring to your attention the major attractions of Ponza and the islands of the archipelago by sea travel...

As we follow the coast to the right, a little bit after leaving the port, we see large gates carved in the grey stone, under the island's cemetery. These are called the Caves of Pilate. The middle cave can be easily visited.

From the Caves of Pilate, as we go across the opening of the port, we will continue our visit of the island by going around the island from right to left. As we move along in this direction, we come across a great bay, surrounded by a large beach with services is Frontone.

A little bit after Frontone we see a formation of white rocks. It is called Piana Bianca. Right next to it you can see the entrance of the Cave of Core. The next stony beach we will see is called the Beach of Core.

Cala Inferno is the name of the next beach. Its name (Hell's Bay) comes from the tormented aspect of the coast due to the winds and the sea. Then we see another stone arch called the Natural Arch, right in the middle of the sea. It is possible to go through it with a little boat. As we continue our tour around the island, we cross the passage between Ponza and the little island of Gavi, in order to reach the other side of the island.

The little creeks on this side of the island are called (in their order):
Cala Le Felci (Harbour of the Ferns)
Cala Fonte (Harbour of the Spring)
Cala dell'Acqua (Harbour of the Water)
Cala Feola (Harbour Feola or of the Natural Pools). This last harbour is worth a visit. We have to swim over in order to visit the interior of the Natural Pools with open skies, see the rest of the harbour and a little beach on one side.

The cliffs of Lucia Rosa are made up of a multitude of little reefs, rock formations, caves and harbours that are grouped around three major reefs. We will turn off the engine and explore these using the oars or by swimming over.

After visiting Lucia Rosa, we will see the Punta di Capo Bianco (The tip of the White Top). This is an overhang made of white stone, which makes up the opening of the creek
Chiaia di Luna (Moonstone). Here also the coast is filled with rock formations and caves. Some of them have suggestive shapes and can be visited (swimming).

Chiaia di Luna (Moonstone) is the most famous beach of the island. It is facing West and is therefore not affected by stormy seas in the main port. The beach can also be reached by land through an antique tunnel dating back to Roman era.

At the other end of the port of Chiaia di Luna is Punta Fieno (Tip of Hay); these are the levels that gradually go down to the sea. On these terraces are grown grapes that are used to produce a fine local wine.

The imposing rock formation that one sees right after is Punta Guardia (Guardian Tip). The lighthouse on its top is one of the most powerful ones in Italy

From here as we continue our tour of the island, we find a pile of rocks and rubble which fell down into the sea from the top of the Mount Guardia. This is the so-called Scarrupata. At the other end one can find other isolated rock formations, not far from the coast: i Faraglioni del Calzone Muto. (The cliffs of the mute trousers).

Other Faraglioni (cliffs) are those of the Madonna. These can be found at the other end of the Parata Bay, beyond this one returns to the side of the port, after having seen the island's cemetery which is located on top of a mount made of white rock.

We advise that you dedicate a full day of excursion to the two neighbouring islands of Zannone and Palmarola.

The excursion to Zannone which will provide you a lovely sea journey will not be completed without a climb to the wooded internal parts of the island, starting from the port of the "Faro" (lighthouse) to the ruins of the monastery and to the nearby museum of the "Ente Parco" (Parks Association). From there you go down the side that overlooks Ponza and enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean flora all the way to the "Cala del Varo".

The excursion to Palmarola, takes you from the port of Ponza all the way to Punta della Guardia (Guardian Tip) and from there one points towards the left end of the little island in front of you. Once you reach the island, go towards il Faraglione di Mezzogiorno, (The Noonday cliff) which can be visited with a small boat. But the main attraction of the island is the spiaggia, (beach) which faces West (like the one of "Chiaia di Luna"). A white cliff overlooks the beach. This cliff contains many little caves, which are home to a variety of animals.

Another attraction of Palmarola is the steep cliff made of basalt rock called 'La Cattedrale', (The Cathedral) which can be seen as you proceed with your tour around the island and on your way back to Ponza

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