The Tremiti Islands

San Domino is the largest of this small island group 22km (13 miles) north of the Gargano. Aside from the beautifully secluded rocky coves and shady pine woods that attract campers, its only claim to fame is as the place where Julia, granddaughter of the Roman Emperor Augustus, died in exile. You can take a 40-minute boat tour of its grottoes.

The tall isle of San Nicola next door, which has the ferry office and tourist info, is capped by the abbey of Santa Maria a Mare, started in 1045, expanded through the 18th century, and used as a prison from 1783 to 1945. It's a steep 20-minute hike up from the docks. The 11th-century church at the abbey's center sports a lovely Renaissance facade and some nifty polychrome mosaics in the floor (1100). Beyond it there are two half-ruined cloisters, lots of bellavistas, and a trio of holes in the ground discovered in the late 1990s that hint at a necropolis dating back perhaps to the 6th century BC.

Where to stay & dine

The hotels and restaurants are on San Domino, and all require half-board in summer. A friendly family runs La Nassa (Via Aldo More 24; tel. +39-0882-463-345), enthusiastically recommended by Italian regulars. You can get one of four minuscule, phoneless rooms above their restaurant—or one of 10 larger and more modern accommodations in their nearby Mare Blu hotel—for a reasonable rate. This rate includes half-board; the fish is plucked from the sea by the family patriarch himself, and mamma cooks. In the off-season, book ahead to ensure they'll be open (try tel. +39-0875-85-257 if there's no answer at the above number).

Tips & links

Tourist info

The Tremiti's tourist info center (tel. +39-088-2463-116) consists of the sweet lady who runs the tabacchi up at San Nicola's abbey (the one with a yellow awning to the right as you enter) and volunteers to hand out a small brochure.

How to get to the Tremiti Islands

Adriatica hydrofoils (tel. +39-0884-708-501) run from Vieste to San Nicola 3 times daily in summer, daily at 9am in winter (1 hr.). There's also one daily hydrofoil from Manfredonia (2 hr.).

A public skiff runs between San Nicola and San Domenico every 10 minutes (5 min.).

Share this page

Intrepid Travel 25% off

Search ReidsItaly.com

Apulia walks & day tours (Matera walks & day tours) Apulia multi-day packages & tours
Details
Apulia tourism information
Viaggiareinpuglia.it


Useful links
TK
Train tix

Shortcuts to popular planning sections:

Airfares, Cars, Trains, Tours, Packages, Cruises, Lodging, Itineraries, Info, Packing, Prep, Comm

Follow ReidsItaly
Follow ReidsItaly on Twitter  Join the ReidsItaly fan page  Follow Reids Italy Adventures blog