Cala dell’Acqua

Cala dell’Acqua owes its name to the presence of a large number of areas dug into the rock from which water seeps. It can be reached not only by sea but also by land through the only access to the sea present in the hamlet of Le Forna. For those who do not have their own boat, a shuttle service departs from the Port of Ponza and leads to the anchorage in 45 minutes by boat.

For about 50 years, until 1975, the area was heavily used for mineral extraction from a rich deposit of bentonite and kaolin. Moving on foot, a short and picturesque walk takes you to the small fort overlooking Punta Papa, built in ancient times in order to ensure the defense of the surrounding area. Under this promontory opens the Grotto of Aunt Teresa: legend has it that a convict hid a very precious treasure there in the past.

Also at Punta Papa, the wreck of a small British transport ship is submerged at a depth of 20 meters. Flat-hulled, it wrecked and was destroyed by an explosion during World War II due to bad weather and engine failure. To be able to locate the wreck, which is divided into two parts, simply take an outcropping rock located near the Point as a reference. The stern of the wreck, still intact, lies just inland from Cala dell’Acqua.

With a short sail, it is then possible to reach the Lucia Rosa stacks, which take their name from a sad news story. Toward the end of the 19th century, the eponymous Lucia Rosa threw herself off the rocks because she was destroyed by her inability to marry a poor farmer. The story is tragic, but the view is striking.

Cala dell’Acqua is small in size but very popular. Characterized by the light, muted colors of its rocks and sand, it is located on the west side of the island: this allows Cala dell’Acqua to enjoy the last, striking rays of the setting sun.

Within the anchorage, a motor tanker moors at anchor, which is essential for the island to be guaranteed a water supply. There used to be an iron pier, but the years and storm surges have gradually destroyed it.

At Cala dell’Acqua there are no safe moorings and no services are provided. In its vicinity, a safe landing place is located about 200 meters south of Punta Papa, where the seabed reaches a depth of almost 18 meters. South-southeast from the same, about 100 meters from the coast is another anchorage point, this time for small boats; here the draft is 5 to 6 meters.

In April 2015, a Services Conference was held on the marina at Cala dell’Acqua. During this conference, the need to design and build a marina in Cala dell’Acqua emerged. This will not only realize a significant increase in nautical tourism with economic development consequences; in fact, the construction of a marina will lead to the environmental remediation and redevelopment of the area on which the former Samip mine stands, which has been totally abandoned to itself since its closure in 1975.