Naples Ustica Ferry

Naples Guide

The Italian city of Naples, or Napoli as it is also called, is located in the Campania region of the country and lies on the Gulf of Naples, on southern Italy's west coast. The city is located in an enviable position between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei. The Roman ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, which were destroyed the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, are located close to the city as is the city of Sorrento and the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Also located close to Naples are the former parts of the Roman naval facility of Portus Julius, namely the port towns of Pozzuoli and Baia which are both to the north of Naples. The city is adorned with medieval, Baroque and Renaissance churches, castles and palaces and has long been an important centre for the arts and architecture. In the 18th century, Naples went through a period of neoclassicism, following the discovery of the remarkably intact Roman ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The port of Naples is home to several ferry, hydrofoil and SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) catamaran services, linking numerous locations in both the Neapolitan province, including Capri, Ischia and Sorrento, and the Salernitan province, including Salerno, Positano and Amalfi. Ferry services also operate to Sicily, Sardinia, Ponza and the Aeolian Islands.

Ustica Guide

The small Italian island of Ustica is located off the north coast of Sicily and boasts spectacular scenery both on land and underwater. The island, which is of volcanic origin, is a national marine park that features petrified black lava and crystal clear waters. Because of this Ustica is a popular destination with scuba divers who flock their to see first hand the submerged ancient city of Osteodos. The island is also a popular destination for overnight visitors as it is easy to get to. Popular attractions on the island include the prehistoric village of the 'Faraglioni' which is a large village with reinforced fortress walls that are about 1 meter high and six meters thick. The village along with 'Omo Morto' shows that during the Bronze Age, around 1450-1250 BC, Ustica benefited from its location along the Obsidian and other trade routes. The walls, built following the construction techniques of Mycenae and dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, are proof of the state of insecurity in which Sicily found itself following the arrival of the Mycenaeans.

You can take a ferry or hydrofoil from Palermo’s Stazione Marittima to Ustica. The crossing takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes by ferry and just over 1 hour by hydrofoil.