Palmarola - 10 Things to Know Before Visiting
Islands
Things to know
About Palmarola
Palmarola is an island located in the archipelago of the Pontine Islands, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is located about 10 km west of Ponza and is the second-largest island of the archipelago. Also called "la Forcina" due to its shape, it takes its name from the dwarf palm, the only palm native to Europe, which grows wild on its surface.
Top hotels near Palmarola
Best hotels to stay near Palmarola. There are no hotels in Palamarola, but the nearby Ponza isaland has a lot of hotels and from Ponza you can hire boat to Palmarola.
Things to Do at Palmarola
Palmarola is cliffy and mostly uninhabited island, located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of Italy. It is rather small, 3 kilometres in length and 300 meters in width. The coast of the island is extremely rocky, with clear waters and dotted with natural grottos, bays and crags. The island is primarily a nature reserve. There are a handful of ports where boats can land. Several restaurants open in the summer season to cater for tourists. Palmarola has only a few beaches.
To reach the island, you have to rent a boat from the nearby larger and more populated island of Ponza. Palmarola is about 6.5 kilometres away from Ponza. The island itself is unbelievably beautiful, with clear waters. The coast is full of coves, caves and spectacular rocky cliffs.
Activities Around
History of Palmarola
Palmarola is most notable for its part in the death of Pope Silverius.
Pope Silverius was bishop of Rome from 8 June 536 to his deposition in 537, a few months before his death. He had a rapid rise to prominence from a deacon to the papacy which coincided with the efforts of Ostrogothic king Theodahad, who intended to install a pro-Gothic candidate just before the Gothic War.
Pope Silverius was later deposed by Byzantine general Belisarius. He was tried by the wife of Belisarius, Antonina, who accused him of conspiring with the Goths. He was sent to exile on Palmarola island, where he starved to death in 537.
Best Time to Visit Palmarola
The best time to visit Palmarola is in the summer months. It is the popular month on the island so if you want to avoid crowds, visit on weekdays in the morning. You will be ready to leave in a few hours by the time most of the crows start to come in.
Tips for Visiting Palmarola
- In its main beach, it is recommended to use diving shoes as there are numerous sea urchins.
- In the summer months, the island will be packed with people.
- Be very careful while exploring the rocky cliffs. It is dangerous and you do not want to fall.
- Check the weather before you book any boats. If the weather is choppy, the captain will abandon the journey midway. And it is also not nice to explore the island in bad weather.
Interesting Facts and Trivias About Palmarola
- As per the famous French explorer and oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Palmarola is the most Beautiful Island in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Pope Silverius - the bishop of Rome from 8th June 536 to 537 was exiled to and starved to death on Palmarola in 537.
How Much Time Did Visitors Spend at Palmarola
It is worth spending a full day at Palmarola. The boat trip itself is incredible offering a spectacular view of the island. And once you are there, you can take a swim in the crystal clear waters and explore the coves around the island. The rocky cliffs of the island can also be explored.
How to Reach Palmarola
From Ponza, Palmarola island is 6.5 kilometres away by boat. You will have to hire a boat to reach it. There are also scheduled shuttle boats (25€/30€) to Palmarola from Molo Musco in Ponza port but check with the locals to get more details.
Ponza is 110 kilometres away from the city of Naples. From the port of Naples, you can take the ferry to Ponza which will take about three hours of journey.
Entrance Fee of Palmarola
There is no fee to enter Palmarola island. But the boat from Ponza could cost you anything between 25 to 150 Euros depending on your luck.
Opening Hours of Palmarola
Palmarola island is open 24 hours. The boat trips to the island will depend very much on the weather for the day.
Attractions Near Palmarola
Milvio Bridge
6.52km from Palmarola
This Roman bridge of war and love is located in the northern part of Rome is perhaps one of the more significant, yet lesser-known landmarks of the Roman Empire. Originally constructed of stone in the 2nd century by Gaius Claudius Nero. It was an economically and strategically important bridge in the era of the Roman Empire and was the site of the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, which led to the imperial rule of Constantine.
MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Art
6.73km from Palmarola
MAXXI—Italy’s National Museum of 21st-Century Art—is a refreshing change of pace. The museum includes a space dedicated to art and another to architecture but is perhaps most famous for the striking building itself, designed by prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The museum is managed by a foundation created by the Italian Ministry of cultural heritage. It consists of two museums; "MAXXI art" and "MAXXI architecture". The outdoor courtyard surrounding the museum provides a venue for large-scale
Vatican Museums
6.97km from Palmarola
With 54 galleries, this is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The museum displays works from the humongous collection acquired by the Catholic Church over multiple centuries. The collection includes the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art. The museum contains about 70,000 art pieces. The museum was founded in the 16th century by Pope Julius II.
Gardens of Vatican City
6.98km from Palmarola
With the size of about 57 acres, the Gardens of Vatican City covers more than half og country. The garden is protected by stone walls expect on its east side. Up untill 2014, the gardens was a private area, and since then it was opened to the public by Pope Francis. The pope is the owner of the gardens.
Saint Peter's tomb
7.25km from Palmarola
Located under St. Peter's Basilica, it was built to memorialize the location of Saint Peter's grave. The complex consists of several graves, and it is was partially torn down during the reign of Constantine I in about AD 330 to provide the foundation for the first St. Peter's Basilica.
Sistine Chapel
7.29km from Palmarola
The Sistine Chapel in Rome is named for Sixtus IV della Rovere, who was Pope from 1471 to 1484. The interior walls of the chapel are covered in exquisite frescoes painted by some of the greatest Italian artists in history, including Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, and of course Michelangelo, who painted the stunning frescoes which adorn the ceiling. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescos that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling an
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Lazio
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Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. Situated in the central peninsular section of the country, it has 5,864,321 inhabitants – making it the second most populated region of Italy – and its GDP of more than €197 billion per year means that it has the nation's second-largest regional economy. The capital of Lazio is Rome, which is also the capital and largest city of Italy.
Location of Palmarola
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