If Italy never ceases to surprise, this beautiful island will not be the exception. Travelling to Ponza, Lazio is like travelling to the past with a hopeful future. Giving life to the so-called Italian Hamptons, Ponza is an island full of unique charms, with crystal clear waters, golden sands and an exceptional climate that make it a place of great natural wealth, but little known.
Typically Mediterranean, Ponza is one of the favorite getaways for Italians, and it’s no wonder. Its calm pace, its delicious cuisine and the energetic life of its narrow, cobbled streets with shops of all kinds make the island the perfect place to visit.
One of the most attractive things on the island is its selection of stunning beaches. There are some really great ones to choose from, such as Chiaia di Luna, a beach shaped like a half moon, with pale sands bathed in aquamarine waters, or Lucia Rosa with its incredible sunsets and translucent waters.
The whole island is a perfect beach destination, where you can find a lot of diving schools to choose from and a seabed with ancient Roman ships, remnants of sunken steamships from World War II and a diverse fauna to discover.
But if you prefer to stay out of the water, there are also many opportunities to navigate around Ponza. You can also make excursions, visit and walk through the natural reserve of Zannone, or explore the Grotte di Pilato, three caves where the Romans excavated artificial ponds to raise fish for consumption. In addition, there are mule routes, which can be fun, and ruins like the remains of a Roman port in Santa Maria and a Roman necropolis to discover.
There are a couple of more known tourist attractions. One of them is the “Giardino Botanico Ponziano”, the Botanical Garden of Ponza, a private botanical garden located in Villa Madonna Collina Belvedere. Created in the 1980s, it is home to typical woody plants of the Pontine Islands that are now endangered, a collection of wild orchids and plants with rare flowers, also in danger of extinction, among other plants and flowers. Open to the public and with guided tours available, it is another picturesque place on the island.
The other great point of reference is the beautiful Faro Della Guardia, a historic 19th-century lighthouse located on a cliff overlooking the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. While it is privately owned and not open to the public, it makes it a great destination for hiking and for some stunning photographs.
Although there may not be a long list of places to see and things to do compared to other destinations, there is plenty to keep you busy in Ponza. Famous for its blue routes, and for the myth of being the sorceress’ island Circe described in Homer’s Odyssey, with its clear blue waters this island provides an excellent view. Besides, getting to taste the fresh fish and seafood once you are back on earth can be your best highlight.
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