Formally a penal colony, The Tremiti Islands are an undiscovered gem off the coast of Puglia. The five islands are called San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio and Pianosa are part of the larger Gargano National Park. The mainland ports with ferries to the islands are Vasto, Ortona, Vieste, Manfredonia, Rodi Garganico, Capoiale and Termoli. Cars are not allowed on the islands, so you will need to park your car at one of the ports above. If you are travelling by train, Termoli is ideal, as there is a bus just outside the station that goes straight to the ferry port. Another, less eco-friendly, way of getting to the islands is by helicopter from Foggia, it costs around 50 €. It takes about 20 minutes, a company called Alidaunia runs the service twice daily. 

Despite the fact that the islands were used to hold prisoners in the 18th century and later as a place that Mussolini sent homosexuals, today the ferry from Termoli is a delight. It heads towards two little islands, before edging into a pretty little inlet. To the left, you have San Domino's Aleppo pines on top of limestone cliffs. To the right, the Abbazia di Santa Maria a Mare abbey, built by Benedictine monks in the 11th-century dominates the view of San Nicola while little fishing boats dot in the waters in between. 

San Nicola

The island of San Nicola though the smallest of the three inhabited islands, it is the administrative hub of the Tremiti archipelago. Its castle-like cluster of medieval buildings rises from its rocks beautifully. Santa Maria a Mare abbey, established in 1045 by the Benedictines is here and has been rebuilt several times over the centuries, but always remained a religious site. The floor is particularly impressive and covered in a magnificent mosaic; it dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries.

San Domino

The Island of San Domino is the largest and lushest of the islands. Its jagged and rocky coastline interspersed with exquisite caves, include the Del Sale, Delle Viole and Delle Murene. The archipelago's main facilities are on San Domino, and historically this island was used to grow crops. The island, fringed with alternating sandy coves and limestone cliffs is just as beautiful away from the coast. The inland areas are covered with thick maquis, a type of scrub vegetation consisting of hardy shrubs and small trees, characteristic of Mediterranean islands like these. You can smell the wild rosemary in the breeze and enjoy the pretty foxgloves. The island has just one small town with several hotels.

Cretaccio, Capraia and Pianosa

These islands are all uninhabited, but there are boat trips available to visit the beaches. Capraia has a rocky coast, full of caves. Pianosa lies away from the main group and 20 nautical miles from the Italian coast. It is 700 metres long, 250 metres wide and 15 metres high. It has a total area of only 13 hectares (32 acres). The island of Cretaccio, lying between San Dòmino and San Nicola, is little more than a rock.

Ferries to the Tremiti Islands

Find a ferry to the Tremiti Islands with Netferry. Visit our website to get the lowdown on everything from prices, timetables and onboard accommodation. With Netferry it's easy to find everything you need to book your ferry ticket quickly and easily. 

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