The mayor of Ponza, the charming little island off the Lazio coast, is striving for enhanced accessibility and eco-compatibility.
Ph Rossano di Loreto
Franco Ambrosini, mayor of PonzaPonza is the largest of the six little Pontine Islands
Among his priorities, says Franco Ambrosini who was elected mayor last year, is the need to boost maritime services to and from the island. “We need new ferries, those currently making the Formia-Ponza crossing are more than forty years old.” Mayor Ambrosini is also enforcing measures to steer the Pontine islands (an archipelago of six islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, of which Ponza is the largest) towards new standards of sustainability, and taking steps to regulate the island’s traffic and waste management systems, with the aim of creating an authentic “eco-sustainable” island.
“Tourists arriving in Ponza by car must be able to find a place to park”
Mayor Ambrosini also wants to prolong the tourist season, and ferry crossing times have already been extended to allow visitors arriving on the island, even in the low season, to spend the whole day there. He is also introducing paid parking, but there are no limits on accessibility, with unlimited numbers of cars able to access Ponza.
"There are no restrictions on cars, but there are special off-limit zones for non-residents, for example in the harbour area. And it is absolute necessary that citizens and accommodation facilities provide sufficient parking spaces for visitors. Tourists arriving in Ponza by car must be able to find a place to park.”
A destination for relaxation and adventure
Ponza is a paradise for sailing, sea and nature lovers, and an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation, adventure and authentic experiences and the mayor, in collaboration with the authorities and trade associations, is stretching his limited budget for tourism promotions. “We are investing in digital technology to increase the visibility of the island, and we are organizing fam trips for the national and international media with the aim of attracting more tourists.”
Creating an environmentally-friendly island
Based on municipal receipts from the landing tax there were 168,000 arrivals on the island in 2019 and 250,000 last year. International tourists make an important contribution to the local economy and, thanks to the efforts being made to enhance services and promote sustainability, Ponza is projecting itself towards being a more easily accessible., and ecologically responsible island.
