USTICA
Ustica is an island about 52 km from Palermo; it is connected by ferry and hydrofoil. There are also connections from Favignana, Naples and Trapani. This tiny volcanic island is only 8.6 square kilometres and is the protruding part of a big submerged volcano, is also the oldest island in the Aeolian archipelago. Ustica gets its name from the Latin word Ustum, which means burnt because the solidified lava on the island are black and the jagged coastline has beautiful caves, inlets, and coves. The inhabitants mainly live off fishing and tourism and specialized agriculture is increasing with the cultivation of vines, vegetables and cereals, especially lentils.
Ustica has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and up until the end of the ancient period, then after this, it suffered many pirate raids up until the Bourbon period when some inhabitants from Lipari settled there. There was a prison built on the island which was closed in the 1950s. Today, thanks to its transparent waters and its rocky coasts, Ustica has become a real paradise for scuba diving lovers and in 1987 it was designated as a marine reserve.
Places to visit
The small town extends like an amphitheatre around a bay that houses the port. A beautiful stairway lined with hibiscus leads you to the centre of the village, at the top of the hill. The houses in the villages have been transformed by artists who have painted landscapes, portraits and still lifes on the walls of the buildings. The town is dominated by the Tower of Santa Maria, which is also home to the Archaeological Museum that houses many artefacts found in the prehistoric village near the Faraglioni and in the Hellenistic-Roman tombs of Capo Falconiera.
At the top of Capo Falconiera, there are some remains of a Bourbon fortress and a rock settlement from the III century BC. There are also many cisterns for collecting rainwater and a staircase cut into the rock. At the foot of the fortress, a necropolis with hypogea was discovered from the early Christian era. Near the Faraglioni, in the area of Colombaia, there is a large settlement dating back to the Bronze Age with circular and square plan huts.
Along the western slope, just inside the reserve, there is the Secret Cave, or Grotta Rosata, whose access is hidden by rocks. Inside the cave, there are beautiful pink limestone algae which makes the entire cave seem pink. For those who like exploring the sea from the surface, there are guided sea watching tours in the reserve area, allowing you to discover various organisms and fish in the area.
Beaches
The jagged coastline is full of caves that can be explored by boat, normally the fishermen at the port offer to accompany tourists with their small boats that are suitable for going inside the caves. It is also possible to reach some small beaches from the land, including Cala Sidoti, Punta dello Spalmatore and al Faro. There are also some beautiful rocky bays and a natural pool along the western slope. The eastern side has some beautiful caves including the Blue Grotto, the Green Cave and the Grotta delle Barche that are great to explore with a snorkel.
The Grotta delle Barche can be reached along a beautiful path through pine and prickly pear trees from the Tower of St. Mary, it continues along the side of the hill and has beautiful views of the coastline. You can also take a trip at day or night on glass-bottom boats, which accommodate up to 20 people. At the Grotta dei Gamberi there are incredible fans of red gorgonians and near Punta Gavazzi there is lots of underwater archaeology to discover. Just off Punta Gavazzi, there are numerous artefacts such as from the Roman period to look at.
One of the most popular diving destinations is Scoglio del Medico, which due to the many caves and deep ravines has a spectacular underwater panorama. Another beautiful excursion is the Secca della Colombara where you can see the colourful sponges and gorgonians. In 1987 the Marine Reserve of Ustica was established to preserve and protect the immense fauna and environmental heritage hidden in the waters of Ustica.