Tremiti Islands

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare is a Catholic Church, which was also a monastery and an abbey through the centuries. The impressive and majestic Abbey of Santa Maria was built, according to historical data, in the 9th century by the Benedictine monks of Monte Cassino, later renovated in 1045, until, following the invasion of Dalmatian corsairs, despite the fortress being surrounded by walls and fortifications, it was sacked in 1334, where the monks were killed. According to mythology, the abbey was built by the hermit San Nicola, to whom, it seems, the Madonna appeared requesting him the construction of a sanctuary. In any case, the abbey of San Nicola became a real fortress, which over the centuries has also suffered numerous other attacks and invasions, until, in 1700, King Ferdinand IV of Naples transformed it into a penal colony, making it also a theatre of naval battles (in fact it is still possible to notice the presence of cannon holes). In the Fascist period it was used to imprison political and homosexual prisoners. Later, the façade and the portal were modified through the addiction of some decorative patterns in Renaissance style. These modifications were commissioned by the Canons Regular of the Lateran. On the portal there are delicate reliefs portraying the Virgin Mary with Saints and Cherubim. The church's interior retains its original structure intact: it has a rectangular plan with three naves and a double deambulatory. Special attention should be paid to the works of art present in this church, such as: the wooden cross, with a particular shape, typical of Greek-Byzantine iconography; the wooden statue "S. Maria a Mare", that represents the Virgin and Child; the Wooden Polyptych on the main altar, a gold laminated carving; the mosaic floor that, after several restorations, can now be admired on the central nave, and that probably is the most significant piece in the Church. The cloister of the monastery is also worth mentioning: the first cloister (the most ancient one) has an 18th-century well in the middle, with water coming from a big underground cistern.

It takes its name from the swallows that nest there in springtime. The grotto is supported by two big natural pillars. A magical place, known for the way it looks at sunset during the hottest days of summer: the rays of sun that pass through the cave’s entrance create a game of reflections between the water and the walls showing an enchanting variety of colours.

The cave owes its name to monk seals (almost totally extinct in the Mediterranean by now) that in old times inhabited the area, and until a few decades ago wallowed in the waters of the archipelago. It is 70 m long, but only 2 m deep, and has a tiny sandy beach in the back. Due to the shallow depth of the sea in this point, the sunlight gets across the water giving a turquoise colour to the whole space. It sits at the foot of the Ripa dei Falconi, where the legendary birds, the Diomedea, are said to nest. On its ceiling are found the oldest rocks of the islands, dolomitic limestone of fossil origin. As you enter the cave, the light gradually decreases until it is totally devoid of light in the innermost part. Furthermore, the innermost part of the cave divides into two branches, one of which overlooks a small beach.

Called by many “the fairy cave”. Its name can refer to the purplish shades that can be admired especially in the early morning during summertime, thanks to the combination of the limpid and bluish water with the wide range of wonderfully coloured fish, that emanate charming nuances when they are illuminated by the sunlight; it may also refer to the abundance of violets and other flowers that cover the grotto's sloping rocks.

It rises 116 m above sea level, consisting of a long path of Aleppo pines, as wild as it is bucolic and poetic, which reaches the coast by two rocky paths; walking through the pine forest, you will arrive at the lighthouse of the island, now defunct and rumoured to soon become part of a luxury tourist resort. It offers beautiful views of the archipelago.

Rental of motor-powered inflatable rafts.