Ponza

Allegedly named after Pontius Pilate (although this is now disputed) Ponza was first colonized by the Etruscans . In Roman times it was used as a place to deport, and usually put to death, those who fell foul of Rome's authorities. In the Middle Ages it could not be protected against raids by Saracens and pirates and was abandoned. It was re-occupied in the 18th Century. The island is a popular tourist spot for Italian holidaymakers in the summer, although some of the popular beaches have been closed because of falling rocks that have in the past killed sunbathers. In the Italian Fascist era Ponza served as a penal colony. Ironically, Mussolini was himself held on Ponza for a few weeks after his arrest in 1943. Ponza is a popular location for filmmakers. Perhaps the most famous was Federico Fellini who filmed Satyricon in 1969.

The island is reached by ferry and hydrofoil from Anzio, Formia, and other mainland ports; there is no airport on Ponza.

Chiaia di Luna, a crescent beach beneath tall white tuff cliffs, is the island's best-known beach, though beach access has at times been restricted due to rockfall risk; it can still be viewed from the pedestrian tunnel entrance or by boat. The Romans carved several tunnels through the island's cliffs, including the passage to Chiaia di Luna and the Grotte di Pilato, a network of tunnels once used for fish farming. The harbor town itself, where most accommodation is concentrated, is a good base for boat tours around the coastline.

Boat tours around the coastline and coves are a popular way to see the island, including views of Chiaia di Luna from the water.

Ferries connect Ponza to Anzio, Formia, and the other Pontine Islands.