Ponza is a comune (municipality) of the Province of Latina in the region of Lazio in Italy. It comprises the four islands of the western part of the Pontine archipelago in the Gulf of Gaeta (central Tyrrhenian Sea): Ponza itself, Palmarola, Zannone, and Gavi. It has 3,295 inhabitants.
The economy of Ponza is essentially based on fishing and summer tourism.
Ponza
The main centre of the island is the port of Ponza, which stands towards the southern end of the eastern coast and is the seat of the commune. Other settlements include Guarini, Giancos, I Conti and Santa Maria in the centre of the island and Campo Inglese and Le Forna in the north.
Palmarola The second largest of the islands is Palmarola which lies some to the west of Ponza. It is inhabited only in the summer months and is the site of a nature reserve. The church of San Silverio recalls Pope Silverius’ death while in exile on the island.
Zannone The island of Zannone is some to the north-east of Ponza and is completely uninhabited: even overnight stays are prohibited. This forms part of the Circeo National Park.
Gavi The tiny island of Gavi lies only off the northeastern tip of Ponza.
Demographics As of 2026, the population is 3,295, of which 52.3% are male, and 47.7% are female. Minors make up 13.2% of the population, and seniors make up 27.9%.
Immigration As of 2025, immigrants make up 10.8% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Romania, the United States, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Georgia.
Twin towns - sister cities Aglientu, Italy Ischia, Italy, since 2013
References
External links Official website