Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone, Ventotene, Santo Stefano, the small island of Gavi and the solitary rock of la Botte are the most extraordinary group of islands in the Tyrrhenian sea because of the variety of their coastlines, the colours of the rocks, the attractive villages and the small ports in pure Mediterranean style. Of course a sailing charter is the only way to enjoy completely places like this. The islands (Province of Latina) are very close to the coasts of Latium (the minimum distance between Zannone and Circeo is 18 miles) and of Campania (the minimum distance between Santo Stefano and the isle of Ischia is 22 miles), and can be reached easily from several continental ports. The islands have always been renowned for their mild climate and for the beauty of their surrounding sea and sea-beds which have an average depth ranging from 3 to 50 metres and a maximum depth measuring below 100 metres at a distance of over 3 miles from the coast. Here, divers will experience magical emotions in a totally unspoilt environment. Their spectacular and bright colours give the islands a particular charm and a surprising beauty also due to the wide variety of small coves, bays or inlets and to the different choices of fascinating walks through the history and nature of the islands that makes Pontine ‘s cruising area is a top destination for your yachting holiday in Italy.

The archipelago is the result of volcanic activity and has been inhabited for thousands of years. Neolithic artifacts and bronze age obsidians have been excavated on the islands. The islands were used by the Etruscans who carved the "Blue Grottos". The earliest recorded history of the islands occurs with the Roman victory over the Volsces at 338 B.C. Local Legend says that this was once the lost Kingdom of Tyrrhenia which sank with a narrow strip connected to mainland Italy. During the reign of Rome's Caesar Augustus, residential expansion on the islands was encouraged and people spread from Ponza to Ventotene. Rome used the two islands as a retreat and a place to exile politically troubling citizens. Currently, tiny vineyards, wild herbs and flowers, and secluded beaches and grottos make it a popular tourist destination.

Palmarola
Palmarola is the most western of the Pontine islands. If you love solitude and living in wild nature this is the most charming place you can find. Palmarola is the second largest Pontine island. The few summer facilities available are the only inhabited places. From a geological point of view the island offers remarkable curiosities such as the oxidianic rock in its northern part, although its biggest attraction is its perfectly transparent sea. The island lies approximately 6 miles from Ponza. There are no specific tourist facilities, but there are two typical restaurants open in summer at Cala di Porto. Palmarola has an extremely craggy coast dotted with grottos, bays, cliffs and crags that makes it a perfect for destination for a sailing vacation. Landing is possible at a small natural harbour where you can make a brief stop and take a look at the grottos excavated by the sea.
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Ponza
Ponza like all the Pontine islands must be experience by a sailing vacation. Reaching by boat the isle shows itself with the semicircle of the rosy houses in the port, the Roman swimming pools and the fascinating sight of the tiny churchyard on the mountain. The scenery shows a wide sequence of stacks, headlands, caves, bays, points, inlets and beaches, all of incomparable beauty. The island is famed for its grotto, which were created by Etruscans. It has the Serpents Grotto and the Roman Gallery which is a Roman tunnel to connect the town of Ponza to the large beach called Chiaia di Luna on its west side. There are Egypitian, Cannanite, Greek, and Phoenician Necropoli ruins. It has a small town named Ponza and another one named Santa Maria and a few smaller towns. Ponza is often confused with nearby islands like Ischia and Capri, except Ponza has no active volcanism. The northernmost island of Zannone serves as a wildlife refuge for some flora that are no longer found elsewhere in the Mediterranean. It is part of the Circeo National Park.
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Santo Stefano
The isle of Santo Stefano lies less than a mile east from the island of Ventotene. Its 0.11 sq. miles surface makes it the smallest of the Pontine islands. There are 4 small landing spots that can be used according to the winds. This island of volcanic origin has probably been inhabited since the Roman age (as the few remains found there seem to prove), although some oxidian finds allow us to assume the existence of even earlier settlements. During the centuries the island was given several names such as Partenope, Palmosa, Dommo, Stephane and Borca. This uninhabited island can be reached from Ventotene by boat. The boat tour around the island is quite brief and offers fascinating views enhanced by the intensely blue-coloured sea and by the dark and ragged basaltic rocks. The sea-beds around the island are full of different species of fish.
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Ventotene
This small island of Ventotene (0.5 sq. miles) was formed by volcanic, mainly tufaceous rocks once used to build houses (as you can see when entering the port). Ventotene has generally high and ragged coasts and two small, beautiful beaches just behind the built-up area: Cala Rossano (close to the Porto Nuovo) and Cala Nave (with the three cliffs: Nave di Terra, Nave di Fuori and Scoglitello). In isolated areas away from the port there are other stretches of beach such as: Parata della Postina, Moggio di Terra and Parata Grande. 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.
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Zannone
Zannone has a surface of little more than 0.38 sq. miles and lies approximately 6.5 miles from the port of Ponza. It is part of the Circeo National Park because of its beauty and the integrity of its environments. The island is uninhabited but supervised by the Forestry Service. There are no tourist facilities and camping or overnight stays are prohibited although no special permit is required to visit the island. It is mainly covered with a thick vegetation based on Mediterranean scrub, but there is also a small ilex-wood. On top of Monte Pellegrino there is a Forestry Service station with a small educational exhibition concerning the naturalistic aspects of the island. Beside the building you will also find the ruins of a Benedictine convent dating back to the XIII century. The complete tour following well-marked paths along the upper ridge of the island takes 40 minutes; don't be surprised if you meet some wild sheep during your walk. The isle has got a regular structure and it's very rich of vegetation. There is actually an abundance of Holm oaks on which a lot of birds' species nest. There is even a colony of mouflons.
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