Ponza, Mediterranean island in Lazio, Italy
Ponza is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Lazio in Italy. The largest land mass in the Pontine archipelago stretches roughly 9 kilometers from end to end and measures up to 2 kilometers across at its widest point.
Roman families built villas here during the Empire, but after its collapse the island remained empty for centuries. In the 18th century the Bourbon crown resettled the territory with families from mainland Italy.
Fishermen still work from small harbors around the coast, mooring wooden boats beside older stone docks. Local families rent rooms in houses painted in soft pastels, preserving a way of life shaped by the sea.
Ferries depart from Anzio Colonia, a train station south of Rome accessible by regional rail. Crossings take roughly 90 minutes, and boats run several times daily during the summer season.
Many residents emigrated to New York in the early 1900s and later returned to retire on the island. This connection created an English-speaking community that remained active through the 1940s.
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