PONTINE ISLANDS

The Archipelago of the Pontine Islands is just a few miles away from the coast of the Lazio region, and therefore very easy to reach (36 miles away from Nettuno and only 21 miles from San Felice Circeo). It has nevertheless maintained its intact and uncontaminated nature and sea.

Since ancient times, as shown by many roman and pre-roman remains, this group of islands has been considered among the most suggestive and enchanting islands of the Mediterranean. This archipelago is formed by 6 islands of volcanic origin with a variety of landscapes, bays and coves of exceptional beauty. It is constituted of two groups which are 22 miles away one from the other. The first one is formed by four islands south-west of Circeo: Ponza, Gavi, Zannone and Palmarola, while the second one, more south-east oriented compared to the first, comprehends Ventotene and Santo Stefano.

PONZA It's port can harbour up to 200 boats on eight floating pontoons, privately managed and equipped with water and electricity sockets. During peak season, you can anchor in the roadstead between the pontoon where the Restaurant Gennarino is and the rock called Ravia. On land you'll find the following services: fuel refuelling – grid and slipway – moving crane and laying–up – engine and electrical repairing – mooring and scuba diving services – repairing for hulls in wood or fiberglass.The whole island is fringed by inlets and coves for sheltering depending on the direction of the winds:

• Cala Inferno and Ansa dello Schiamone protected from SW to NW, from Cala Inferno you can climb up a stairway cut in tufa stone and reach the little town of Le Forna, overlooking Cala di Feola on the west coast of the island, where you will discover many tipical restaurants.
• Cala di Feola and Cala dell'Acqua, protected from the winds of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quadrants; on the south-west side of Cala di Feola, you'll find a little marina or you can anchor in the roadstead of the little harbour. Here you will find the natural pools, excavated by the sea in the tufa stone. At Cala dell'Acqua you can find refuge form the Mistral, sheltering behind Punta del Papa.
• Cala di Lucia Rosa, is protected from winds of the 1st and 2nd quadrants. This coastline is particlularly beautiful and is characterized by a series of grottoes and rocks.
• Chiaia di Luna, excellent refuge from the east wind and the others of the 1st quadrant; good sandy seabed for anchorage. From this marvellous beach you can reach the town of Ponza walking through a tunnel excavated by the ancient Romans.

PALMAROLA Is the most western island of the archipelago; many dangerous points surround its coasts but you'll be able to find great places to anchor.

We suggest you visit Punta Tramontana, from where you can admire a very beautiful bay called "The Cathedral" because of its cliff falling vertically to the sea and the big bays which remind us of that image. At Cala del Porto you'll find, during the summer, a small restaurant on the shore.

VENTOTENE The old harbour, Porto Nicola, has been excavated by the ancient Romans, as well as the bollards and the portico running along the quay, still perfectly functioning. At the entrance of the harbour, and more precisely, at the base of the tufa rock which is located where the lighthouse is, you can recognize the ancient Roman fishpond for fish raising, provided with an ingenoius system for water recycling through pipes flowing into two covered pools.

The island saves other historical vestiges among which the remains of a great roman construction towards Punta Eolo: the Borbonic stairway and the fortress. Besides the old harbour and adjacient to it, towards north, lies the new port, Porto Nuovo (Cala Rossano) protected by a quayed jetty. The port offers various services such as: water, electricity and food supply, ice and marine shops. Other safe bays are:

• Cala Parata Grande protected from east winds. Though it is the only natural refuge from the southeast wind called "libeccio", you need to consider that we are in the B zone of the natural marine reserve and therefore all anchorage and motor navigation is forbidden.
• Cala Nave and Parata della Postina protected from winds of the 4th quadrant, C zone of the natural marine reserve, where you can anchor on the outside of the four buoys which delimit the reserved area.

Temperature c°	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Max	13°	16°	20°	24°	27°	27°	24°	20°	16°
Min	9°	11°	14°	18°	21°	21°	19°	16°	12°
Precipitations (mm)	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Max	132	87	83	55	84	120	175	352	207
Min	53	38	21	13	10	25	54	107	106
Wind (kn)	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Speed	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5
Directions	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W -NW	W -NW