UsticaSicily · Italy

All About Ustica

If you imagine a miniature Sicily, the image is probably something similar to the realities of life on Ustica. Home to 1300 people, this tiny island roughly 50 kilometers north of Sicily’s Cape Gallo has certainly led an interesting life. Settled since at least 1500 BC, it became a prison island in the 1950s aimed at housing fascist and mafia prisoners well away from mainland Italy. You can easily book your ferry tickets to Ustica with the help of Ferryscanner.

Thankfully those years are behind it, and now the island has become a magnet for tourists. It is particularly well known for its offshore scuba diving sites. However, culture and nature lovers will also find a multitude of other attractions to north, south, east, and west.

As a small island just five kilometers across, Ustica is dependent on its public ferry service for almost everything. Ferryscanner makes it easy to compare the best ferry services, and book ferry tickets to Ustica should you be eager to explore this miraculous destination for yourself.
 

Routes and Ferries to Ustica

By far the most usual way of reaching Ustica is by sea. Liberty Lines is responsible for ferries to the island, which dock at the island’s main settlement. This is sometimes known as Ustica Town. Ferries depart from Palermo, the provincial capital of Sicily. Almost directly south of Ustica, the sailing between Palermo and the island takes just 1.5 hours.

What’s more, there are up to three sailings per day in either direction. Tickets cost between €25 and €40 and entitle foot passengers to a comfortable seat. Liberty Lines is one of the ferry companies in the region with the most modern fleets of any. As a result, it’s also possible for passengers to obtain basic refreshments while on board.

The only alternative to reaching the island with ferry tickets to Ustica is by helicopter. A semi-regular service is operated by AerSicilia, with departures from Palermo airport.
 

Ports of Ustica

There is just one port on the island of Ustica, although local fishermen are also known to beach their vessels in the shallows of coves and bays nearest their homes. The port is located on the eastern side of the island, in a large natural bay that has been protected further with the construction of a stout seawall to the south. Those with ferry tickets to Ustica from Palermo will arrive on the northern side of the port. However, given the port’s importance to the people of the island, you will find yourself only a couple of hundred meters from the nearest hotels and restaurants. The attractive harborside is filled with small dinghies and private yachts during the peak summer months of May to October. But even during the winter, it’s rare that ferries are unable to dock.
 

Best Beaches

Although you might be heading to Ustica to explore its celebrated underwater worlds, it’s difficult to resist the temptation of some of the island’s best beaches. They range from tiny coves all but hidden by surrounding rocks to wider expanses of sand. On a weekday, it’s possible to have them all to yourself, safe in the knowledge that the Mediterranean weather won’t let you down.

Sidoti Cove

Like many of the best beaches in Ustica, Sidoti Cove (Cala Sidoti) is located in the Contrada Spalmadore area. This means a journey across the island to the southwestern corner. The island’s small size means that this never takes a great deal of time. Once there you’ll find clear waters lapping against black volcanic sands, making it a memorable place to sunbathe or swim.

Spalmadore Cove

Not far away from Sidoti Cove is Spalmadore Cove. Again made up of mind-bending black sand, it lies within the protected area of a preserve. This means it’s as pristine in appearance today as it was fifty years ago.

Scogli Piatti Beach

Roughly midway along Ustica’s west coast, Scogli Piatti Beach is reached via a very short stretch of gravel road which splits from the main road that circles the island. Just 50 meters long, you shouldn’t expect any facilities, so take everything you might need with you.
 

Places to Visit in Ustica

Small but quite possibly perfectly formed, Ustica still provides visitors to the island with a number of interesting attractions and places to visit.

Ustica’s Watchtowers

Ustica was plagued by pirates raiding its isolated settlements for centuries. These two watchtowers were constructed to help spot approaching vessels, giving residents time to prepare. They doubled as tanks for storing rainwater for the long summer months. The closest to the port is that of Santa Maria, a short uphill walk away.

Church of Saint Ferdinando Re

You can’t miss the Church of Saint Ferdinando Re (or The Holy King Ferdinand) since it stands tall above the main square. A source of pride since it was built in the late 1700s, it also incorporates unique ceramic artworks created by Giovanni de Simone.

Town Murals

Giovanni de Simone also created the first of several murals in Ustica Town. It began a tradition that sees many of the town’s blank walls decorated with all manner of images. Constantly evolving, they are the work of both professional and amateur artists and add an even greater atmosphere to its already friendly ambiance.
 

Things to Do in Ustica

If the variety of fine foods and excellent beaches leaves you feeling in need of more active pursuits, then you can do far worse than exploring the island’s nature. This can be done both beneath the waves and across its landscape of low hills.

Scuba Diving in Ustica

Ustica is often heralded as the best scuba diving destination anywhere in the Mediterranean. A good number of diving centers operate throughout the summer, providing trips for both first-timers and experienced divers. A marine reserve since 1986, fish are easy to spot as they move among the reefs, caves, and underwater tunnels.

Hiking in Ustica

Get off the beaten track by joining the Sentiero del Mezzogiorno. The hiking trail begins on the coast just south of the tower of Santa Maria. It then winds a gentle path beside the sea towards the lighthouse at Punta Cavazzi on the opposite coast. A full circuit of the island instead would take around four hours.
 

Transportation Around Ustica

Public transportation on Ustica is limited, and most visitors, therefore, arrange their own transport while on the island. Both scooters and electrically-assisted bicycles are available for rental by the day. There’s also a basic taxi bus service. Pick-ups can be organized beforehand over the phone.