Ustica

Ustica is the tip of a submarine volcano rising about fifty kilometres north of Palermo, roughly eight and a half square kilometres of black rock, with sea caves, arches and steep underwater drop-offs. In 1986 the waters around it became Italy's first marine protected area, with zoned rules restricting fishing and anchoring, and the resulting fish populations made it one of the earliest and best-known Mediterranean diving destinations. An underwater archaeological trail marks anchors and amphorae on the seabed. On land, a Bronze Age village at Faraglioni is one of the better-preserved of its period in the western Mediterranean.

History

Excavations begun in 1989 at Tramontana, also called Faraglioni, uncovered a large prehistoric village of the 14th to 13th centuries BC, with the foundations of some 300 stone houses and defensive walls among the strongest of any period known in Italy; its settlers are thought to have come from the Aeolian Islands (Wikipedia, Ustica).

What's there

• The marine reserve - Italy's first, zoned since 1986.
• The underwater trail - anchors and amphorae marked on the seabed.
• The sea caves - grottoes and arches around the black rock coast.
• The Bronze Age village - a well-preserved settlement at Faraglioni.

When to go

May to September for diving and boats; crossings are cancelled in rough weather, which is common outside summer. The island is very quiet off season.

Things to know

Crossings are weather dependent and can strand visitors. There are no sand beaches, only rock entries. Reserve zones restrict where you can swim, fish or anchor.

Nearby

Palermo lies south; the Aeolian islands are east.