According to archaeological findings, it appears that the first inhabitants of this island were Phoenicians or Carthaginians. Coins, mosaics and various objects also testify to the presence of the Romans, who called it Ustom, "burnt", which gave the present name. From the eighth century there was an Arab dominion, with a single interruption during the Norman domination - in the course of which the Benedictine convent and the Santa Maria church were built. It was only in 1763, after repeated attempts, that the Spanish government succeeded in occupying and re-populating the island, which was afterwards fortified by the Bourbons. The new population was brought from the Aeolian Islands, and it is for this reason that the inhabitants preserve customs and dialect from the latter. The main attractions of Ustica are its magnificent sea beds, protected, starting from a few years ago, by the setting up of a marine reserve. Coming to the island, you usually land at the Santa Maria harbour, which the black volcanic sand under the surface of the water gives a deep turquoise colour. There are various interesting excursions: for example, you can go up to the fortress, at 157 meters on Cape Falconara, where there is a magnificent view of the whole island, the sea and the Sicilian coast, or sail round the island, visiting the numerous grottoes along the coast. Among them we will mention the Grotta Azzurra, Grotta della Pastizza and Grotta di Blasi.