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We can reach Ventotene isle. This isle is the most southern of all the Pontine Archipelago's ones. Further for its natural beauties, its sceneries and its seabed, it's also valued for the archaeological and artistic treasure, witness of a millenary history. The island was first used as a base by the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans in the Ist. century and was subsequently equipped by Augustus with a port dug in volcanic rock which is still in use today and which serves the huge Villa Giulia where he had relegated his daughter accused of infidelity.
After the decadence and abandonment period of the Middle Ages the island was repopulated by the Bourbons during the second half of the XVIII century. They created the current built-up area with the castle (today's town-hall), the church of Santa Candida and the wide square. From Ventotene there is the chance to go to St. Stefano isle. The morphologic structure of this isle is mainly basaltic. St. Stefano is the smallest isle of the Pontine Archipelago. In 1795 the big penitentiary wanted by Ferdinand IV was completed and was open until 1965.
During the fascist period some of the most representative figures of the XX century were locked up here: Sandro Pertini, Luigi Settembrini, the anarchic Bresci, the murder of King Umberto I.
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