Sicily - Island Ustica Info and Map

Ustica belongs to the province of Palermo and has 1370 inhabitants and an area of about 809 hecktar and a population density of 169 inhabitants per square kilometer. The village center is located 238 meters above sea level and is a popular holiday destination for tourists from around the world who want to spend their holidays there.

This Mediterranean island is 36 nautical miles (66672 km) from Palermo away, and can only be reached by sea. Ferries daily cross to the island which need about 2 to 3 hours for the crossing.

The first name of Ustica was Osteodes what comes from the Greek and what is pronounced in Italian Ossario.

Naming

Ossario means Ossuary, in relation to bones and skeletons. This first name was created by a found of 6000 corpses from the Greeks which has been found by the conquest of the island. The second name comes from the Latin and is called Ustum which means burnt earth or burnt rock. The naming was due to the black volcanic rock which can be fount anywhere there.

On this island are a variety of Mediterranean fruits cultivated. From apples, cactus figs, olives, cereals, lentils, grapes and citrus fruit to everything will grow with fantastic sweetness and ripeness of optimal quality. The island Ustica is also known for the fish-rich waters and the table of Ustica is covered rich and offers delicious seafood.

Information on the history

The history of Ustica is influenced by various cultures, according to the Greeks, the Romans which conquered the island. Then came the Normans (Vikings) and the Saracens (Arabs), after these cultures the pirates dominated the island for 400 years and then the island got liberated by the House of Bourbon unter French rule in the year 1763. The Bourbon founded the city of Ustica which now belongs to Italy. The island was used as major military base in the 2nd World War.

Nature reserve for divers

The mediterranean island of Ustica ist also well known for its beautiful mediterranean coastlines and its abundance of fish which was appointed and established in the year 1987 officially as nature reserve (Riserva Marina Isola di Ustica) and also protected. The waters in this region and environment are also called as lung of the sea, since there live algae which produce more oxygen than trees. Many divers and scientists come to this natural paradise to combine relaxation and science. The beauty of the waters and coastal scenery have inspired many visitors and so the island was already in several films and books. The Blue Grotto for example, is one of the many caves that are located on this coast and invite to explorations.

The tourist infrastructure is on this small but beautiful mediterranean island limited and well-regulated and so the nature reserve is a popular tourist destination which can be visited the whole year.

Attractions and sights

One of the most important historical building is the so-called tower Torre di S. Maria. These watchtowers were built in the 17th century by the Bourbons to protect the island and are used today used as National Archeological Museum and as Marine Navie reserve association.