Things to see in Ponza
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 1 January 2024
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The beautiful island of Ponza is a favourite getaway spot for Romans and the people of Lazio in general. Located around 50 kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coast, you can reach Ponza from a number of ports including Formia, Terracina and Anzio.
From there you take either a ferry or hydrofoil with journey times varying between 50 minutes and 3 hours, depending on which type of boat you take and from which port you cross. The fastest route is by hydrofoil from Terracina, a journey of 50 minutes but only available during the summer when there are also connections via Naples and the islands of Ischia and Ventotene. |
Chiaia di Luna, Ponza
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Making your way around Ponza
It's a fairly small island but not quite small enough to make the whole thing walkable so it's a good idea to hire either a scooter or one of the funky rental cars including jeeps. If you don't like the idea of that then there are buses and taxis as well.
The first place you're likely to see on the island is Ponza Port which is where all the ferries arrive. This is by far the most populous area on the island and also where you'll find the majority of shops, bars and restaurants. This also happens to be one of the island's most attractive areas with its multi-coloured houses, distinctive red lighthouse and generally bustling port atmosphere.
Most visitors to Ponza come for its beaches though and there are many to choose from. In large part, the beaches are quite small, in little coves with the most attractive being Cala Feola and Cala Fonte. The largest beach on the island is called Frontone and you can get there by a small ferry from Ponza Port which takes around 10 minutes.
Ponza's most iconic landmark is Chiaia di Luna. The sheer cliff face is an imposing sight and that, coupled with the crystalline blue sea below makes it a popular destination for anyone with a boat.
The boats congregate in the bay where the water is shallow and incredibly clear. This isn't restricted to the rich and famous by the way, there are dozens of boat rental companies in Ponza Port where you can hire a gommone (dinghy/rib) for the day either with or without a skipper.
The first place you're likely to see on the island is Ponza Port which is where all the ferries arrive. This is by far the most populous area on the island and also where you'll find the majority of shops, bars and restaurants. This also happens to be one of the island's most attractive areas with its multi-coloured houses, distinctive red lighthouse and generally bustling port atmosphere.
Most visitors to Ponza come for its beaches though and there are many to choose from. In large part, the beaches are quite small, in little coves with the most attractive being Cala Feola and Cala Fonte. The largest beach on the island is called Frontone and you can get there by a small ferry from Ponza Port which takes around 10 minutes.
Ponza's most iconic landmark is Chiaia di Luna. The sheer cliff face is an imposing sight and that, coupled with the crystalline blue sea below makes it a popular destination for anyone with a boat.
The boats congregate in the bay where the water is shallow and incredibly clear. This isn't restricted to the rich and famous by the way, there are dozens of boat rental companies in Ponza Port where you can hire a gommone (dinghy/rib) for the day either with or without a skipper.
Exploring the other Pontine Islands
A leisurely cruise around the island by boat is highly rewarding; not only can you find some of the best places to swim, but you can also see some of the other islands that make up the island group known as the Isole Pontine, the Pontine Islands.
The largest of those is Palmarola which you can easily see to the west of Ponza, although it's deceptively further than it looks and can take around 45 minutes to reach in one of the gommone boats. There are also lots of other bays to discover where you'll find that beautiful-coloured water and views across to the neighbouring islands including Gavi and Zannone.
An hour's hydrofoil journey to the east of Ponza lies the island of Ventotene which is the second largest in the island group and the only other one that's inhabited. The final Pontine Island is Isola Santo Stefano which was once a prison and now a favourite destination for day-trippers from Ventotene as it lies just a short distance from there.
The largest of those is Palmarola which you can easily see to the west of Ponza, although it's deceptively further than it looks and can take around 45 minutes to reach in one of the gommone boats. There are also lots of other bays to discover where you'll find that beautiful-coloured water and views across to the neighbouring islands including Gavi and Zannone.
An hour's hydrofoil journey to the east of Ponza lies the island of Ventotene which is the second largest in the island group and the only other one that's inhabited. The final Pontine Island is Isola Santo Stefano which was once a prison and now a favourite destination for day-trippers from Ventotene as it lies just a short distance from there.
Beaches of Ponza
Cala Fonte, Ponza
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Ponza Port
Ponza Port
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Ponza Travel
Laziomar Ferry in Ponza
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