Pontine is an archipelago of six islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, located beyond the west coast of Italy, between Rome and Naples. As a part of the Lazio region, these islands are stunning getaways steeped in history and nature, each with a distinctive personality.

Ferry tickets to the Pontine Islands are available via Ferryscanner from Terracina and Naples, with boats arriving at Ponza. This beautiful crescent-shaped island promises soft sand beaches, hidden grottos, Roman cisterns, colonial villas, and a charming harbor lined with colorful fishermen’s houses. Immortalized in literature, the island’s Frontone beach is where Circe enamored Odysseus as he returned from conquering Troy. The liveliest of the group, Ponza sees much tourist traffic, including celebrities and royals, during summer.

Jagged cliffs reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals give the islet of Palmarola an imposing look. About five miles from Ponza, this quaint little rock has a seasonal appeal, with its solitary bar operating only during summer. Famous for its fresh seafood, the bar also rents out a few rooms, should you wish to spend the night here. Day visitors can arrive at Cala Porto in a dinghy or fisherman’s boat from Ponza for a day full of lounging, hiking, and snorkeling in deep blue waters.

The smallest of the group is Gavi, a 700-meter uninhabited and wild islet half an hour from the main island of Ponza. While its ruggedness gives this rock a dramatic look, the waters surrounding Gavi are teaming with vibrant marine life, waiting to be discovered during scuba diving and snorkeling escapades.

The horseshoe-like Santo Stefano is now a deserted craggy island but was, up until 1965, the site of a notorious prison. Guided tours take you around the islet and up a tricky path to the abandoned pastel-colored building. While wandering around the jail is undoubtedly eerie, the panoramas from the top are phenomenal.

A bit further from the rest of the islands, Zannone is the odd one out. However, that doesn’t take away from its rather flamboyant past. Known for its reddish-yellow, dark, and brooding cliffy topography, the island is home to a villa built over the remains of a monastery in 1930. At one time owned by Marquis Casati Stampa and his actress wife Anna Fallarino, the estate was infamous for hosting parties of a questionable nature. Now, the coastguard and protected wild mouflon reside on Zannone, but its emerald green waters are ripe for tourists to swim and snorkel.

When booking ferry tickets to the Pontine Islands, you can plan to go island-hopping using the regular ferries from Ponza to Ventotene. The 2.9 Km long retreat has two ports, Porto Romano and Cala Rossano, and a landscape that slopes from one end to the other. Historically significant, it was here that Emperor Augustus banished his daughter Julia the Elder. In modern history, the island is where imprisoned writers Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi wrote the Ventotene Manifesto in 1941, which became the basis of the European Union. Today, Ventotene is a bustling year-round destination with cafes, restaurants, gorgeous beaches, untouched nature, and spectacular scuba diving opportunities.