go along and watch while birds are weighed, measured and ringed. Culture Santa Candida Festival The celebration of the island’s patron saint, Saint Candida, takes place on 20 September, but the festivities start ten days beforehand with the daily launch of a hot air balloon accompanied by a marching band. The decorated paper balloons, a type of giant sky lantern up to 10 m in height, are constructed by the island’s youth during the summer and on the 19th there is a balloon competition as part of “The Games” that take place in the Roman port all afternoon. The festival culminates in a day-long feast and religious procession on the 20th, when a statue of Saint Candida, placed on a flower adorned boat, exits the church, and is carried around the island’s narrow streets on the shoulders of eight men. As with all events during the festival, the band plays and firecrackers and fireworks are set off continuously. The celebrations end with two fireworks displays. Transport The island is connected by a daily ferry and hydrofoil service to Formia provided by the ferry company Laziomar. This is supplemented by summer services to Anzio and Terracina on the mainland, and the nearby island Ponza. During the summer months, SNAV also operates routes between Ventotene and Naples, as well as the island of Ischia. Gallery See also List of islands of Italy Ventotene Manifesto Santo Stefano Island Pontine Islands Santo Stefano lizard References External links Ventotene official website ‘Tiny, charming island offers taste of pure Italy’, cnn.com/travel, October 6, 2008. Ventotene: An Island in The Global Herald, July 2011 Cities and towns in Lazio Islands of Lazio Province of Latina Stratovolcanoes of Italy Pleistocene stratovolcanoes Pleistocene Europe Roman villas in Italy