Ponza is the largest of the Italian Pontine Islands archipelago, located 33 km (21 mi) south of Cape Circeo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island was inhabited from the Neolithic Era through Roman times. According to local legends, Ponza was named after Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judea who convicted Jesus of Nazareth for heresy. Pontius Pilate’s family owned a grotto on Ponza, which is still named after him. The Roman Villas are still a point of interest for tourists. Over the years, it has become a holiday destination for people from all around the world thanks to its history and natural beauty. The island is famed for its Blue Grottoes, which were created by the Etruscans. Among them are Serpents Grotto and the Roman Gallery, a Roman tunnel that connects the town of Ponza to the (now closed) large sandy beach called Chiaia di Luna on the west side. The island has many archeological ruins visible everywhere.