A holiday on the Gargano Peninsula cannot be considered complete without visiting the Tremiti Islands. Dubbed the “pearls of the Adriatic“, they are located approximately 12 nautical miles off the Gargano coast and are a treasure trove of incredible beauty waiting to be discovered. They constitute the only archipelago in the lower Adriatic and form a marine nature reserve. The rich vegetation and pristine sea make them a paradise for diving. The islands are five: San Domino, the largest and most famous, San Nicola, the historical and administrative center of the archipelago, Capraia, completely uninhabited, Cretaccio, the smallest island in the archipelago, and Pianosa Island, located about 11 nautical miles away from the others and designated as a integral marine reserve.
San Domino and San Nicola are the only inhabited ones. San Domino is probably the most beautiful from a naturalistic point of view. A realm of Mediterranean vegetation, it has only one sandy beach, Cala delle Arene, behind the harbor, and several small rocky coves. You move around the island on foot, but the distances are not so short: it takes about an hour or maybe more to go from one end to the other. Attention!! Always bring drinking water. To fully appreciate the beauty, it is essential to see the islet from the sea. You can admire numerous coves and caves such as the Grotta del Bue Marino, Grotta delle Viole, Grotta del Coccodrillo, and other curious rock formations!
The pristine nature, crystal-clear water, and the variety of colors of the seabeds of these islands attract thousands of visitors from around the world every year. But what makes the archipelago an irresistible stop is also the charm of its history, which is lost between myth and legend. It is said, in fact, that the islands were created by the hero Diomedes, who threw into the sea five rocks brought from Troy, which re-emerged in the form of islands. Legend also has it that Diomedes was buried on the Tremiti Islands and that his men were transformed by the goddess Aphrodite into seabirds, called “diomedees,” who still today with their song continue to mourn the death of their leader. That’s why the Tremiti Islands are also called the “Diomedee Islands“.
To reach the Tremiti Islands, you just need to embark from the ports of Vieste, Rodi Garganico, or Peschici on comfortable and fast ferries with daily departures.
