The port of Ventotene has a modern part, the New Port of Cala Rossano; and an ancient part, the Roman port. Ferries and hydrofoils that connect the island with the mainland arrive at the New Port of Cala Rossano, and it's also possible to dock medium and large private boats. Instead, at the Roman Port can moor a limited number of boats, mostly of medium and small size.
The maritime connections with Formia, Terracina and Ponza are guaranteed all year round even if the frequency varies according to the season; connections with Naples Mergellina and Casamicciola Terme (Island of Ischia) are made only in the summer months.
Average travel times are between 1 and 2 hours.
Ventotene has an area of less than two kilometers. So it can be easily toured on foot or by bicycle.
The ticket offices of the shipping companies are located on the "Porto Nuovo" square.
As often happens with small islands, the port is the first tourist postcard of the area. Ventotene is no exception. To see the Roman port along which there are bars, restaurants, pizzerias, diving centers, clothing stores, typical products and souvenirs.
Those arriving by ferry or hydrofoil at the port of Ventotene can immediately begin their visit. The very first thing to see is Porto Romano, an engineering work that continues to amaze after more than a thousand years. In fact, the Romans dug thousands of cubic meters of tuff to build this port. The caves that we see while walking, now used as bars and diving centers, are still those built in the first century AD.
The fish pond near the lighthouse was also the same period. Here too we are in the presence of an avantgarde fish farming system by the standards of the time, further demonstrating the level of technological development reached by the Roman civilization.
Also worth visiting is the Archaeological Museum on the ground floor of the Bourbon fort where the town hall is located. While, if it's open, the prison built by the Bourbons for political opponents on the island of Santo Stefano should be visited. As is known, the fascist regime also used the prison of Santo Stefano, and the island of Ventotene, to imprison or exile those who opposed the dictatorship of Mussolini.
Not far from the port are the beach of Cala Nave and the church of Santa Candida, patron saint of the island.