Where are the Tremiti Islands? Italian archipelago featuring on Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape
CELEBRITY chef Gino D’Acampo has been exploring the Adriatic Coast’s delights as part of his Italian Coastal Escape series, most recently taking in the breathtaking sights of the Tremiti Islands.
We explore what these “Pearls of the Adriatic” hold for intrepid travellers.
Where are the Tremiti Islands?
The Isole Tremiti is an archipelago in the Adriatic Sea, north of the Gargano Peninsula.
They are situated in the Puglia region of southern Italy.
Made up of three main islands and two smaller ones, Tremiti is a picturesque composition of ragged cliffs, sandy coves and thick pine woods, surrounded by the glittering dark-blue sea.
The three idyllic islands are named San Nicola, San Domino and Capraia, and they are only an hour’s ferry ride from the port of Tremoli in the province of Foggia.
What are the islands like?
The island of San Nicola is the smallest of the three main islands but is used as the administrative centre of Tremiti.
This island is also where most of the population resides.
The Abbey of Santa Maria a Mare can be found on San Nicola, which was founded by the Benedictines in 1045.
The islands' main facilities are on San Domino, the largest and lushest island, formerly used to grow crops.
It is today seen as the tourism hub, with more than 100,000 visitors every summer.
San Domino is ringed by alternating sandy beaches and limestone cliffs, and the centre harbours a nondescript small town with several hotels.
The third main island of Capraia is uninhabited.
The two other smaller islands are also uninhabitable - Cretaccio is essentially just a large block of clay and Pianosa is only 49ft above sea level and often gets covered by waves during storms.
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How do you get to the Tremiti islands?
The best and cheapest means of travel to get to the archipelago is by ferry.
The main ports to get a ferry to go to the islands are: Vasto, Ortona, Vieste, Manfredonia, Rodi Garganico, Capoiale and Termoli.
Cars are not allowed on the islands, you will need to park your car at one of the ports above.
If you are travelling by train, it is best to get off at Termoli as there is a direct bus just outside the station that goes directly to the ferry port.
Another option is to do as Gino D'Acampo did and take a helicopter from Foggia.
It costs about €50 for the 20 minute journey and runs twice a day each way.