Grotte di Pilato
Grotte di Pilato
4.5
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4.5
117 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
30
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
1
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Christian U
Locarno, Switzerland68 contributions
July 2015
Sometimes read a book about Romans, watch a documentary rather then visit the wordwide famous Colosseo does not give the exact idea about one of my favourite Roman skills: having fun. 'La Murenaia' is a place built with the specific purpose of breeding morays: the dish you cannot miss if you are a Roman Patrician, name Pilato (God knows if he was 'that' Pilato!) having party in your villa, located on the top of the cliff where the caves are located). So yes! Tell one of your slave to go down there...without stuble on those terrific steps...pick a big moray and let the party begin!
Apologize for the little maccheronic premise, but...that place (reachable by boat, or swimming...the first is highly suggested) give you that feeling...to be back 2000 years and see exactly the same scenario. The place is incredible...have a swim there is a unique wow moment you will tell your 'evious' friends for the rest of your live when back in Londonium, Mediolanum, Parisii...or wherever within the Empire...
Apologize for the little maccheronic premise, but...that place (reachable by boat, or swimming...the first is highly suggested) give you that feeling...to be back 2000 years and see exactly the same scenario. The place is incredible...have a swim there is a unique wow moment you will tell your 'evious' friends for the rest of your live when back in Londonium, Mediolanum, Parisii...or wherever within the Empire...
Written 10 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agnes56
Budapest, Hungary185 contributions
Sept 2015 • Solo
This is a beautiful bay close to Ponza Harbor. The Grottos are manmade hundreds of years ago. If you choose a boat trip round the island you will hear the exciting history of the Island and the people living there already 2000 years ago.
Written 25 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J H H
McLean, VA1,168 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
Tiberius allegedly built a series of "baths"/deep (originally frescoed) ponds cut directly into the hillside beneath his villa. Amazing to see from the sea - even better if you could visit them by land - your tour boat can go close enough to see them but you won't see much detail. These were (according to our guide) carved to accommodate lamprey ponds - lampries were considered a delicacy that only the richest Romans could afford. According to our guide, he who had the largest amount of lampries was the richest "fish" in the social scene. Lampries (or possibly, Moray eels) were caught, and kept alive in these sea washed, oxygenated (naturall) pools for food and ceremonial purposes (some were apparently adorned with jewelry!). Anyway this is the first stop outside the port and thronged with people - so go early and a smaller boat will ensure you can get up closer.....
Written 5 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brancusirocks
Rome, Italy611 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
Travelling with a small baby, we didn't want too long an excursion. This was perfect to sample the beautiful sights along one side of the island and get back to port after an hour or so.
The Pilato caves were excavated in Roman times (Pilato was the architect - no relation to the infamous Pontius) and the feat is impressive even for someone like me with zero interest in engineering.
There are remains of a Roman villa and Roman fortifications, a beach that was used for prisoners in exile to clean up after their working day - evenin freezing February, a lighthouse, a botanical garden, a hiking trail with wild goats scampering around, various rock formations and caves, chunks taken out of the cliffs to build houses, driftwood, a local artist's house on its own tiny island...
Our knowledgeable guide described the various items of interest and their history, which made the tour so much more interesting, although we would also have had a lovely time just looking at the scenery.
There are many boats for hire; our hotel had advised us to go to the Ponza cooperative, and although I can't compare with others whose services I haven't used, I'd definitely book with them again as I had full confidence in the safety of the boat and the professionalism of the crew, and the guide was great. The price was EUR12 per adult.
The Pilato caves were excavated in Roman times (Pilato was the architect - no relation to the infamous Pontius) and the feat is impressive even for someone like me with zero interest in engineering.
There are remains of a Roman villa and Roman fortifications, a beach that was used for prisoners in exile to clean up after their working day - evenin freezing February, a lighthouse, a botanical garden, a hiking trail with wild goats scampering around, various rock formations and caves, chunks taken out of the cliffs to build houses, driftwood, a local artist's house on its own tiny island...
Our knowledgeable guide described the various items of interest and their history, which made the tour so much more interesting, although we would also have had a lovely time just looking at the scenery.
There are many boats for hire; our hotel had advised us to go to the Ponza cooperative, and although I can't compare with others whose services I haven't used, I'd definitely book with them again as I had full confidence in the safety of the boat and the professionalism of the crew, and the guide was great. The price was EUR12 per adult.
Written 25 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Troy B
Stuttgart, Germany153 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Used one of the local tour companies, had a chance to get pretty close to the Grotte without getting out of the boat
Written 1 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Expat_Kiwi_01
Sydney, Australia225 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
We hired a boat and skipper to take us on a tour of some of the sights of Ponza from the water, first stop out of Porto was the Grotte di Pilato, amazing caves and tunnel system carved out of the rock by slaves in the Etruscan (i think) times, apparently for Roman women to bath in so their skin did not get burnt by the sun. If we had visited without a skipper we would have found it interesting but less so as we were told the story and taken around the coastline to see where the tunnel system ended, which was quite some distance up the cliff face and around the corner...apparently also good to swim in but we did not.
Written 31 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett M
Tauranga, New Zealand50 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
Take your togs rent a boat and go on your own swim and explore these amazing caves.
been coming here for years and it never fails to amaze me
been coming here for years and it never fails to amaze me
Written 4 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jervaulx
York, UK857 contributions
June 2012 • Couples
Terrific colours and seascapes. There are several boats round the port to be hiored (with a guide). Take a small one which will allow access actually in to the smaller caves (such as the Lion's Cave).
Written 22 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie & Frans
Oslo, Norway76 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Many years ago we were here, but it was absolutely amazing and something I recommend everyone going to this island. Exciting to see, as well as refreshing to swim here.
Automatically translated
Written 16 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valter195217
Cuneo, Italy11,422 contributions
June 2024 • Friends
The Pilate Caves are 5 caves dug into the tuff at sea level dating back to Roman times.
These caves were originally used to breed fish (especially moray eels).
According to legend, the name of the caves derives from Pontius Pilate who as a young man was sent here to quell a revolt: since he succeeded, he was then sent to Palestine to solve the problems with the Jewish rebels.
These caves were originally used to breed fish (especially moray eels).
According to legend, the name of the caves derives from Pontius Pilate who as a young man was sent here to quell a revolt: since he succeeded, he was then sent to Palestine to solve the problems with the Jewish rebels.
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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