The Greeks called it Osteodes, the island of bones: six thousand mercenaries left there by the Carthaginians, who did not want to pay them, are said to have died of hunger and thirst. The Romans, more prosaic, called it Ustica from ustum, burnt, for the colour of its rock.
On the northern side of the island stands the Villaggio dei Faraglioni, from the Bronze Age: three hundred stone houses and defensive walls among the strongest known in Italy. Later the island belonged to pirates, until in 1759 Ferdinand of Bourbon had it colonised, with two watchtowers and cisterns for rainwater. All around, the high coast is full of caves. There are 1,287 residents.
Sfincione · Arancina · Pasta alla Norma
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Next up: Saint Bartholomew, the patron imposed by the colonists from Lipari, Tuesday 24 August
Nearest airport: Palermo Falcone-Borsellino, 60 km away
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📅 Every year, on 24 August
Ustica celebrates Saint Bartholomew on 24 August; the choice of patron was imposed by the colonists from Lipari, who settled on the island in 1763, and the feast is still celebrated today with boat races, pot-breaking, art performances and fireworks.
Tall, soft bread dough, tomato, onion, anchovies, oregano and caciocavallo: sfincione is Palermo's focaccia, cut into squares.
Read more →Saffron rice, ragù with peas and caciocavallo cheese inside a golden crust. Round and feminine in Palermo, pointed and called arancino in Catania: the quarrel is serious.
Read more →Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Ustica, but an easy day trip away.
