Ustica Island
Ustica is sea, history, sport, nature and relax
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Above and Below the Sea
The island of Ustica, one of the Mediterranean’s finest scuba diving destinations, offers unparalleled water clarity and will captivate you with its stunning natural colors and significant archaeological sites.
A place of pristine natural beauty, the island is perfect for birdwatching, discovering rare flora and fauna, and exploring archaeological trails that trace humanity’s ancient roots.
Ustica is a true paradise for anyone who loves the thrill of the sea, the poetry of nature, the allure of history, authentic cuisine, and the warm hospitality of the Sicilian people.
Uncontaminated nature
Ustica enjoys a beautiful, mild climate all year round. Here, you can marvel at the stunning, pristine sea. The island is rich in greenery, featuring pine forests that blanket its three hills and wild vegetation that extends right down to the coast.
In 2017, Ustica’s waters were recognized by the “Guida Blu” (Blue Guide), earning the prestigious “Five Sails” award, a distinction reserved for Italy’s most beautiful seas and a testament to an unspoiled natural environment that is treated with respect by the local tourism industry. A holiday in Ustica offers sun, sea, and the kind of deeply moving experiences that only untouched nature can provide. Ustica: a true natural paradise.
The Sea of Ustica
The waters surrounding Ustica are a true paradise and offer some of the best diving in the Mediterranean.
In fact, in 1986, the island was designated Italy’s first Marine Protected Area, thanks to seabeds teeming with rare fish species and a vast, diverse array of algae and corals.
While experienced divers will certainly appreciate the rich marine life, even beginners and children will be thrilled by the simple experience of “seawatching”—especially within the Marine Protected Area, where the waters are exceptionally clear and fish of all kinds can be admired up close.
Explore these extraordinary underwater landscapes with the expert guidance of the island’s many well-equipped diving centers.
Discover small beaches of black sand and pebbles, beautiful caves, and hidden coves featuring incredible colors and crystal-clear water.
Many swimming spots are easily accessible via public or private shuttles, or by e-bike. Discover the treasures that await you on a holiday at Ustica’s Terrazze sul Mare.
Experience the island
Ustica is a rocky outcrop of approximately 9 square kilometers located in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, north of the coast of Palermo; it has long captivated visitors with its beauty and the natural heritage it preserves. In 1986, a… was established there theArea Marina Protetta, the first in Italy. Sea, nature, archaeology, history and culinary tradition, human warmth within a beautiful island.
This fantastic island is able to satisfy any type of need, thanks to a varied offer of equipped bathing sites, wild rocky coves, caves and a surprising underwater ecosystem. But also archaeological sites, trekking, events, nightlife, meeting places and the unmistakable flavor of Sicilian cuisine.
History and tradition present Ustica as a small village made up of narrow alleys, stairways bordered by hibiscus and houses painted like paintings, which, with its evocative landscapes and breathtaking views, always leave a sweet memory of Sicily in those who visit it.
Slow Food Island
Since 2000, the island of Ustica has been home to a Slow Food Presidium. The association, which safeguards small-scale, high-quality local products, has designated the lentils and fava beans, traditionally grown on the island using organic farming methods, as a Slow Food Presidium.
Discover the Ustica lentil and taste it in the island’s restaurants, prepared according to traditional local recipes. Organic, healthy, and packed with beneficial properties, the Ustica lentil is a quintessential Sicilian Slow Food product. It boasts a particularly intense aroma and flavor, while its unique tenderness allows for quick cooking without the need for prior soaking. These tiny lentils are prized for their rich taste, their fragrance while cooking, and their tender texture.
In June, one can witness the harvesting of the plants; they are sun-dried and then laid out on the threshing floor for the traditional “Pistata”. During this process, pairs of donkeys or cows drag a special stone to crush the pods and break the plants down into straw. Next comes the “Spagliata”, a skillful task involving tossing the straw and legumes into the air with a wooden pitchfork to separate them using the wind—followed by the “Cirnuta”, where a large sieve is used to clean the lentils of remaining straw fragments and clumps of earth. Today, the Ustica lentil is exported throughout Italy and abroad, and has even become a regular item on astronauts’ menus.
Trekking and MTB
For a holiday dedicated to trekking, the unique pleasure of nature and its silence, a multitude of routes awaits you in Ustica: from paths along the coast such as the “Sentiero di Mezzogiorno” and “Sentiero di Tramontana”, to those inside the forest, such as the “Sentiero dei Quattro Venti”, the “Sentiero del Tramonto”, the “Sentiero del Bosco” and that of the “Passo della Madonna”. A complete overview of the island from Monte Guardia dei Turchi.
Ustica offers much more than a pristine blue sea. A unique natural environment makes this fantastic island the ideal habitat for many rare birds, making it one of the best places for birdwatching in Sicily.
In 1997 the Oriented Nature Reserve was established in Ustica, and today, also thanks to it, you have the possibility of living in an earthly paradise preserved from human damage.
Ustica by mountain bike allows you to truly get to know the essence of the island and is an eco-sustainable means of transport, therefore in perfect slow style that respects the uncontaminated nature of the island. There are many trails to follow, with varying degrees of difficulty, but all spectacular and panoramic.
You are fast enough to get around, but not enough to miss beautiful things as would happen when traveling by car or scooter. Furthermore, if keeping fit during the holidays can be difficult, a day on the bike helps in the attempt.
Marine Protected Area
The Ustica Marine Protected Area is a true underwater paradise spanning 15,000 hectares of sea around the island’s perimeter; its marine biodiversity has been safeguarded for 40 years. In 1986, local fishermen themselves advocated for the establishment of Italy’s first marine reserve to protect this unique marine environment and its biodiversity. Today, Ustica’s waters remain teeming with diverse fish species, such as dusky groupers, tuna, amberjacks, dentex, barracuda, saddled seabream, octopuses, and spiny lobsters, and are frequented by *Caretta caretta* sea turtles, various cetaceans, and the characteristic red shrimp. The Ustica Marine Protected Area monitors the ecosystem in collaboration with universities and research institutions, under the coordination of the Ministry of the Environment. Annual assessments are conducted on flora and fish populations, as well as on the compatibility of fishing and tourism activities. The Marine Area also focuses on outreach and education; to this end, guided sea-watching excursions and transparent-bottom canoe tours are organized within the strict reserve zone. The Ustica Marine Protected Area is divided into three zones A, B, and C based on the level of protection: strict, general, and partial. Spearfishing is prohibited throughout the entire area.
The Best Dives
For diving enthusiasts, the seabed around Ustica is a true paradise; the island’s underwater world offers an exhilarating experience for snorkelers and underwater photographers alike. The clarity of the sea, the rich variety of marine flora and fauna, and the intricate volcanic rock formations will exceed your every expectation.
There are numerous dive sites to choose from, including the “Secca della Colombaia,” where you might encounter giant dusky groupers; the “Scoglio del Medico,” where schools of barracuda await to swim alongside you; and the challenging “Secchitello,” featuring a distinctive rocky peak rising to a depth of 28 meters. There are also various underwater caves, with the “Grotta dei Gamberi” (Shrimp Cave) and “Grotta delle Cipree” (Cowrie Cave) being particularly spectacular. Other impressive sites include “Punta Falconiera,” “Complesso dell’Accademia,” “Punta San Paolo,” “Piramidi,” “Secca d’Africa,” and “Punta Galera,” among many others.
Two marked underwater archaeological trails, at Punta Omo Morto and the Spalmatore lighthouse area, allow you to discover ancient anchors, pottery, and other artifacts from bygone eras, all identified by explanatory signs.
The island boasts numerous high-quality diving centers staffed by specialists who can guide you in exploring Ustica’s waters, its beauty, nature, and secrets, in complete safety.
Ustica is equipped with a highly efficient hyperbaric chamber that operates throughout the diving season.
History and Archaeology
Throughout its history, Ustica has seen the passage of numerous cultures and civilizations, including Saracen, Arab, and Roman, that have left behind many traces across the island’s various sites.
Not far from the town center lies the Rocca della Falconiera, offering a beautiful view of Cala Santa Maria and the districts of Tramontana and Piano dei Cardoni. Along the rim of the island’s last volcanic crater, one can find the remains of Roman dwellings, remnants of Bourbon fortifications (now housing the Volcanology Laboratory-Museum), and a necropolis featuring Early Christian underground tombs.
Another fascinating archaeological site is the fortified prehistoric village of Faraglioni, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age. Considered by scholars to be one of the most significant Middle Bronze Age monuments in the Mediterranean, excavations there have unearthed numerous huts and a complex, functional network of pathways.
Discover Ustica through its museums: the “Seminara” Prehistoric Museum (located in the former prison for political exiles), the Underwater Archaeology Museum at the Santa Maria Bourbon Tower, and the Volcanology Laboratory-Museum at the Rocca della Falconiera.
The Ustica Island Study and Documentation Center serves as the island’s historical memory; it is a volunteer association that organizes cultural events, exhibitions, and walking tours to showcase the island’s geology, history, and archaeology. Its headquarters house photographic exhibitions, books, and artifacts documenting Ustica’s long history.
Diving Center
Bathing Sites
There are countless ways to enjoy the sea at Ustica: you can relax in the island’s warm sunshine in small coastal coves, or seek adventure by diving into the depths, jumping from high cliffs, snorkeling amidst myriad fish, or using a glass-bottom canoe to fully appreciate the Protected Marine Area.
For those who equate the sea with relaxation, one of the island’s most beautiful swimming spots is Cala Sidoti, an enchanting cove of dark pebbles lapped by stunning, crystal-clear, shallow waters. It is one of the two most strictly protected swimming zones within the Protected Marine Area and is ideal for fish-watching.
Other unmissable swimming spots include: the Natural Pool at the foot of the Punta Cavazzi lighthouse; Caletta Santoro and the Spalmatore Pier beneath the Bourbon tower; the Lighthouse Solarium Cove (the only area with facilities); Scogli Piatti, with its unique flat slabs of tuff rock; Punta Megna; La Punticedda, offering views of the Faraglioni sea stacks; Cala San Paolo; Scugghitti; and many more. Sites such as Cala di Passo della Madonna and the Faraglioni are accessible only by sea.
Tour of the Island and Caves
One activity we highly recommend to our clients, an absolute must-do, is a boat tour around the island to discover its many beautiful hidden coves and explore its magnificent caves, including taking a swim that will remain a lifelong memory.
The caves of Ustica offer a natural spectacle rarely found elsewhere, engaging all the senses with an ancient, pristine, and wild allure that speaks of millennia-old formations. Your eyes will be enchanted by the myriad light reflections filtering into the cave inlets, playing across the rocks like a kaleidoscope of colors. Your ears will be captivated by the sounds of the sea crashing against the volcanic rock walls in varying tones, creating a fascinating and ever-changing acoustic experience.
Each of Ustica’s caves is unique, offering a distinct emotional experience while telling the story of the island’s geology: the “Grotta Azzurra” (Blue Cave), where the sea takes on an intense turquoise hue; the “Grotta Verde” (Green Cave) with its emerald reflections; the “Grotta Pastizza”, which conceals other submerged and semi-submerged caves within; the “Grotta delle Barche” (Cave of Boats), where fishermen once sought shelter during rough seas; and the “Grotta dell’Oro” (Gold Cave), featuring walls that shimmer with a golden glow.
There is another cave on the island, perhaps the most famous, that can only be visited from land: the “Grotta Segreta” (Secret Cave) or “Rosata” (Pink Cave), located in the Spalmatore area near Caletta Acquario. A twenty-meter tunnel opens up within a circular coastal area, leading to this small cave connected to the sea by an opening; inside lies a small pool of water filled with reflections and colors, inviting quiet contemplation. Swimming here is strictly prohibited.
Le Terrazze sul Mare Ustica
di Dragna Carmela
Via Cristoforo Colombo, 3
90051 Ustica (Pa) Italy
P.Iva 07306420824
+39 3389066477
+39 3394294992
+39 0917574482
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CIR/CIN: 19082075B455719, 19082075B455723, 19082075B455726, IT082075B47MANG4FK, IT082075B4S28C628G, it082075b425bkm3yr
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