( CNN ) -- The charm of Ventotene is apparent the moment you spot it from the boat transporting you to its shores . Sitting there like a lonely sponge cake protruding from the surface of a clear blue plate , the island 's sheer size -- or lack thereof -- promises something not only special but personal . Ventotene lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea just west of the mainland region of Campania . Arriving on this tiny island off the west coast of Italy , you enter the port built into the side of the volcanic island by the ancient Romans and only recently developed and expanded to provide for heavier traffic . The fishermen 's boats lining the harbor along with pizza and scuba shops give the island that quintessential small-town Italian feel . To get to the center of the island , you walk the winding ramp to Piazza Castello , where the town hall sits . Grab a cappuccino at one of the two cafes there , which moonlight as restaurants during peak season from May to October . If caffeine does n't satisfy you , grab a bottle of wine at one of the local alimentari and sit in the park right off the square for majestic views of the small uninhabited island of Santo Stefano ( used to detain Mussolini 's adversaries during his rule ) . Part of the cluster of islands known as the Pontines , Ventotene -- which gets its name from the Italian word for wind , `` vento '' -- lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea just west of the mainland region of Campania . It occupies less than a square mile , and its history dates to the Roman Empire , when emperors such as Augustus and Tiberius found the island 's isolation perfect for banished troublemakers . During World War II , it was used as a listening post by a German garrison before being captured by the Allies in 1943 . The island also has a rich literary history . It is thought that Homer intended this to be the spot where Ulysses confronted the sirens during his long journey home . John Steinbeck wrote about the 1943 U.S. raid on Ventotene while he was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune . During the day , you can sunbathe at one of the three main beaches . Cala Nave is the preferred choice for its accessibility , black volcanic sand and rock outcroppings that make for ideal basking in the intense Mediterranean sun . Ventotene has become a scuba diving destination because of its lush and mostly undisturbed aquatic life . There are several scuba-diving schools on the island , one of which was erected in the late '70s and is the oldest scuba academy in the whole of Italy . Private and group lessons start at 100 euros . Ventotene 's size makes it perfect for simply setting off and exploring . Walking is cheap , and traversing the bright landscape -- which often doubles as cliff 's edge because of the island 's narrow width -- is rewarding not only for its brilliantly colored vegetation but also for its panoramic views and lack of entry fee . Lower on the island , discover the chiseled rocks pockmarked by saline ( little crevices used to collect fresh salt water in ancient times ) and the sea caves down by the port where transparent pools often act as windows into the astonishing marine life that surrounds the island . If you 're looking for something a little less nature-oriented , there are two museums . Villa Giulia -- which is less enclosed museum than outdoor relic -- is the ancient remains of a structure that housed/imprisoned Emperor Augustus ' daughter , Giulia , who was exiled there for her promiscuity and immorality . The other is the Archeological Museum , which in its more standard presentation holds many artifacts that have been uncovered on the island over the years . Unlike its more frantic ( by Italian standards ) and popular southern neighbors , Ischia and Capri , Ventotene has barely been touched by international tourism . The hotels are affordable , and the food is n't overpriced . Today , it 's home to a year-round population of about 600 . That number skyrockets during the summer months , especially in August , when it seems that every Italian heads to the seaside , or September , when the Festival of Saint Candice ( Festa di Santa Candida ) turns the island into one extended party . Ventotene 's real appeal is n't in its breathtaking 360-degree sea views , its clear , clean water or even its architecture and people . There are other places in Italy just as stunning . Its charm is in the sense you get that you 're experiencing something not discovered by the tourists who flock en masse to the rest of Italy year-round . A sense you 're among Italians .
Ventotene lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of Italy . Roman emperors found the island 's isolation perfect for banished troublemakers . Its lush and mostly undisturbed aquatic life makes it attractive to scuba divers .