Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This tiny island floats alone almost 60km north of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Part of
the Aeolian volcanic chain, the land mass is actually the tip of a submerged volcano. Its
black volcanic-rock landscape is sprinkled with blazing pink-and-red hibiscus flowers and
prickly green cacti, the shoreline is littered with dramatic grottoes and the surrounding
waters - protected within Area Marina Protetta Isola di Ustica (Island of Ustica Protected
Marine Area)
-
are kept sparklingly clean by an Atlantic current and are thus replete with
fish and coral.
Palermitans flock here in July and August for their summer holidays - consider visiting
in June and September to appreciate the dramatic coastline and grottoes without the
crowds. Note that between October and Easter most of the island's restaurants and accom-
modation options close down during the week and ferry services from the mainland can
be cancelled in bad weather.
Sights & Activities
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
Divers from all over the world come to Ustica between May and October to explore its
magnificent underwater sites. Highlights include the
underwater archaeologicaltrail
off Punta
Cavazzi, where artefacts such as anchors and Roman amphorae can be admired. Other
popular dive sites are the
Scoglio del Medico
, an outcrop of basalt riddled with caves and
gorges that plunge to great depths; and
Secca di Colombara
, a magnificent rainbow-coloured
display of sponges and gorgonias.
There are plenty of dive centres that offer dive itineraries and hire equipment. Among
them,
Diving Center Ustica
( 380 4745118;
www.usticadiving.it
; Contrada Piano Cardoni)
- affiliated with
Hotel Diana - stands out as the lone operator managed by local residents born and raised
on Ustica.
Area Marina Protetta Isola di Ustica
(Island of Ustica Protected Marine Area) is divided into
three zones. Zone A extends along the west flank of the island from Cala Sidoti to Caletta
and as far as 350m offshore (marked with special yellow buoys). You can swim within its
boundaries at designated spots, but fishing and boating are prohibited. Two of the island's
most beautiful natural grottoes - the
Grotta Segreta
(Secret Grotto) and the
Grotta Rosata
(Pink
Grotto) - are located here.
Zone B extends beyond Zone A from Punta Cavazzi to Punta Omo Morto; swimming
and underwater photography are permitted within its boundaries, as is hook-and-line fish-
