Casa La Ginestra e il Mare Ponza
+39 349 7650144 - info@casalaginestraeilmareponza.it
Ponza: the pearl of the Tyrrhenian
Ponza is the main island of the Pontine archipelago, which also includes Palmarola, Zannone, the islet of Gavi, and Ventotene, further south.
Of volcanic origin, it is surrounded by crystal-clear sea with breathtaking seabeds: a true paradise for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The circumnavigation is a succession of fascinating and colorful cavities, caves, rocks, coves, and bays including Cala Feola, Cala dell’Acqua, Il Frontone, Punta Capo Bianco (where Federico Fellini filmed some scenes of Satyricon), and the Arco Naturale.
Ponza Porto and the hamlet of Le Forna are the two inhabited centers of an island that offers not only the sea but everything that makes a holiday unforgettable: trekking, archaeology, and... excellent cuisine!
The most spectacular of all the bays is undoubtedly Chiaia di Luna, inaccessible to the public for safety reasons, but which can be admired in all its grandeur from the sea and from the viewpoint reachable by a walk from the port.
The Bourbon port
The island's landing point is the spectacular Bourbon Port, with its evocative and iconic row of colorful houses overlooking the pier. It was built between 1772 and 1793 at the behest of the Bourbons, who encouraged the repopulation of Ponza through settlers sent from Ischia after centuries of abandonment: the Neapolitan dialect spoken on the island is still unmistakable evidence of this today.
The beautiful parish church dedicated to Saints Silverio and Domitilla, patrons of Ponza, is worth a visit in the area: the facade and structure with the dome are neoclassical, the interior is baroque.
Behind the church, towards the cemetery, there is the Pontine Botanical Garden: founded in the 1980s with the aim of creating ideal conditions to welcome and save typical species of the archipelago at risk of extinction and to carry out significant repopulation, today it includes over seventy plant species, including some unique in the panorama of Italian botanical gardens. The important collection of wild orchids is worth admiring, some of which can no longer be found in the archipelago. It is possible to plan a visit, by reservation at 360 352510.
And from the port, it is worth reaching on foot, through two tunnels dating back to Roman times, the fishing villages of Giancos and Santa Maria, with their sandy beaches and the maze of little houses overlooking the sea: a truly picturesque walk!
Countless are the signs of the Roman presence on an island chosen by emperors as a place of relaxation. Among these, the ancient water supply system, with large cisterns and four aqueducts, the pedestrian connecting tunnels still in use, and the Grotte di Pilato. The latter are located in the southern area of the port, below the Ponza cemetery, and were used for breeding moray eels. The tanks - which can be visited from the outside by boat trip - are interconnected through a system of tunnels. A staircase led to the sumptuous villa of Emperor Octavian Augustus. In the niches carved into the rock there were statues of deities. Also from the Roman era is the Cisterna della Dragonara, an archaeological treasure in the historic center of Ponza. It is one of the three large cisterns built by the Romans to supply the naval fleet during battles. It is an ingenious work consisting of the cistern and underground corridors and water channels that intersect the naves, forming a sort of checkerboard of empty and full spaces. The Dragonara system is accessible with guided tours: for information and reservations contact the Pro Loco of Ponza at 0771 80031.
For trekking lovers, the easy climb to the plateau of Punta Incenso, at the northern end of the Island, about two kilometers after Casa La Ginestra e il Mare, is unmissable: from there you can see Ponza (from the port to the Arco Naturale) and Palmarola at the same time. A few more steps and you have a scenic view of Gavi and Zannone: an unforgettable walk! The ascent to Monte Guardia is possible thanks to a path that climbs from the Chiaia di Luna area: once you reach the top at 280 meters above sea level, the view over the whole island and Palmarola is priceless. Also evocative is the Faro della Guardia, at the southern end of Ponza: the path that winds from the port is currently closed.
Le Forna
Le Forna is the populous hamlet of Ponza where Casa La Ginestra e il Mare is located: it can be reached via the provincial road. The main core stands around the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. Several panoramic points can be reached on foot, such as the Madonnina viewpoint, Forte Papa, and, in the northern part of the island, the San Silverio observatory at Punta Incenso. In Le Forna there are the most fascinating beaches of the island such as the Natural Pools, Cala dell'Acqua, and Cala Feola. But above all, it is the area of Ponza where you can admire Palmarola in all its magnificence.
Forte Papa is the ruin visible from the terrace of Casa La Ginestra e il Mare: it can be reached with a simple walk (head north, then follow the signs), which leads to one of the most panoramic points of the whole island, from where you can see Palmarola and discover a unique view of Le Forna, with its coves and colorful houses. Forte Papa was built for defensive purposes by King Ferdinand in 1772 in a place where there was already a fortification from the 16th century, when the island belonged to the Farnese, the powerful family of Pope Paul III.
From the church of Le Forna, it takes just a few steps to reach the Madonnina Viewpoint, where a statue of the Virgin dominates the bay of Cala Feola and the Natural Pools, while Palmarola can be seen on the horizon. A spectacular viewpoint, ideal for those who want to contemplate the Beauty of the Pontine Archipelago!
Le Forna is home to the operational headquarters of the Ponza Bird Ringing Station: a research center that studies bird migrations in the Mediterranean. Between March and May, it is possible to participate in the activities and workshops organized. Information on the website www.inanellamentoponza.it or at +46761268005.
Island of Palmarola
The emerald green of the sea, the sheer cliffs, the succession of rocks and caves, up to the unspoiled coves make Palmarola one of the most beautiful places on the planet, as noted by the great photographer and popularizer Folco Quilici. Palmarola has the only landing at Cala del Porto. An excursion from the sea reveals a rugged landscape that plunges into transparent and unspoiled waters, a destination for underwater photographers due to the richness and diversity of flora and fish fauna. This island enchants with its multicolored volcanic rocks, transparent and deep waters, seabeds with walls covered with gorgonians and red algae, meadows of posidonia, boulders and rocks carpeted with a varied marine flora. Not to be missed are the “cathedrals”: sheer cliffs reminiscent of Gothic churches. Typical of the island are the cave houses, owned by the people of Ponza, who inhabit them at certain times of the year.
Island of Zannone
Zannone is part of the Circeo National Park: it is a lush hill immersed in typical Mediterranean vegetation, the ideal stop for thousands of migratory birds. Here are the remains of the Benedictine convent of Santo Spirito di Zannone. Circumnavigating the island in a southeast direction, you come across Cala delle Grottelle, Scoglio del Monaco, Capo Negro, Punta del Mariuolo, and Punta Lunghetiello. The lighthouse that can be admired from the viewpoint of the ancient convent is spectacular. The island is a perfect destination for trekking thanks to a panoramic path immersed in the Mediterranean scrub.
Ponza and Palmarola told by Licia Colò in the episode of Eden on July 6, 2024
Ponza and Palmarola told by Silvia Squizzato on Tg2 Sì Viaggiare
The story of Leone, Palmarola’s only resident, told by the Geo program on Rai Tre