Profondo Blu On Land Experiences
Profondo Blu On Land Experiences
Thrills do not end off the boat!
You surely want to get the best out of your scuba vacation once you are in Ustica, but there are times when you will have to stay dry or simply would like to extend your vacation and discover what has the island to offer above the surface.
Guided Nature Walks
Ustica has also a terrestrial natural reserve, with several hiking tracks: along the coastline, the Sentiero di Mezzogiorno is one of the most popular as it follows the southern coast of the island from where you can admire the dive sites from another point of view. If you desire to cool off, the Path of the Woods will bring you up on the highest hills through the pine forest. If you are interested in some kind of cultural experience, the archaeological trails in the Middle Bronze Age settlement Villaggio dei Faraglioni, where excavations revealed traces of industrious life already in the bronze age, and the Villaggio della Rocca Falconiera, which was a defensive military structure dating back to the 3rd century BC.
You could get a map and go for your walks on your own, but we strongly recommend a guide, who will introduce you to the natural history of the island and show you the endemic species, as well as cool facts about living on the island.
Ustica by Bike
It may not be the most sought-after destination for bikers for its short trails, but if you want to live the island as a fan of biking, you can go for it. Mountain bikes and e- bikes are available for rent and you can join the MTB Group for thematic routes. Or just take it easy and go for a bike ride around the island and stop in a small cove for a refreshing bath.
Solarium for the laziest
Still not fed up with sunbathing? Or you wore your dive suit for too long that you need some sun tan before going back home?! Get a day to relax in the sun and take it easy at the equipped volcanic beach near the Lighthouse at Punta Cavazzi. Here you can chill out until evening and enjoy the beautiful sunset with aperitif at the lounge bar.
Explore the roots of culture
There are no great monuments to visit in Ustica if you compare with the rich cultural heritage of Sicily, but a few hours are worth to visit the Centro Studi e Documentazione Isola di Ustica - Research and Documentation Centre - and the Museo Civico Archeologico di Ustica - Archaeological Civic Museum - to discover the historical and naturalistic roots of the island.
The Centro Studi e Documentazione Isola di Ustica, established in 1997, is a non-profit cultural volunteer association that aims to promote activities and initiatives focused on the island of Ustica in order to spread the knowledge and recovery of its cultural heritage.
The Archaeological Civic Museum is named after Father Carmelo Seminara da Ganci, the first discoverer and supporter of the archaeology of Ustica.The exhibition includes a significant selection of remains from the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1200 BC): household items for preservation, preparation, food cooking and consumption, but also finds related to metallurgical production, obsidian tools, jewellery and objects of various materials (stone, bronze, terracotta). The materials come from the investigations carried out by the Superintendence of Palermo between 1974 and 2003 in the prehistoric settlement of the Village of the Faraglioni, suddenly abandoned in the twelfth century B.C. for natural disasters.
Another interesting visit is to the Laboratory-Museum of Earth Science Island of Ustica (LABMUST in short), a cultural institution founded on the initiative of Research and Documentation Centre Island of Ustica, operational since 2015 following a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Ustica and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). LABMUST is located in the historic premises of the Rocca della Falconiera, on the edge of an inactive volcanic crater, 175 meters above sea level. It carries out tasks of dissemination, education and scientific research. Here is a permanent exhibition "Ustica prima dell'uomo" – Ustica before mankind - , which illustrates the geo-volcanological history of Ustica, starting from about a million years ago, when the island began to be built as an underwater volcanic mountain on the bottom of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea.
Enjoy it!
