-AS THE FIRST PLACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN TO BE DECLARED A NATURAL MARINE RESERVE- THE ISLAND OF USTICA- 36 MILES FROM THE SICILIAN COAST- IS TODAY A TRUE PARADISE IN THE DEPTHS OF WHOSE WATERS CAN BE FOUND MOST TYPES OF MEDITERRANEAN FLORA AND FAUNA. IN THE CRYSTAL WATERS ARE REFLECTED THE BLACK OR BRIGHTLY-COLOURED ROCKS WHICH FALL TO THE SEA AND ARE LOST IN IT IN A SERIES OF BIZARRE AND DIFFERENT SHAPES. DIVIDED INTO THREE NATURALISTIC ZONES TO AVOID THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF POWERFUL AND INDISCRIMINATE TOURISM- USTICA HAS PREPARED A SERIES OF DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES TO PROTECT THE PRICELESS NATURAL HERITAGE WHICH IT DEFENDS JEALOUSLY AN EFFORT WHICH REWARDS NOT ONLY THE ISLAND BUT ALSO THE VISITOR- WHO CAN TRULY ENJOY THE ENCHANTMENT OF A UNIQUE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS REMAINED COMPLETELY UNSPOILED FOR MANY CENTURIES.PERCHED ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POINT OF THE ISLAND- WITH ITS WHITE PAVILIONS AND FLOWERED TERRACES DESCENDING TO THE SEA- THE HOTEL GROTTA AZZURRA IS IMMERSED IN A COLOURFUL AND PERFUMED OASIS OF MEDITERRANEAN VEGETATION. A SPLENDID NATURAL CAVE CARVED OUT BY STORMS IS ENCLOSED IN THE CLIFF BELOW- THE GROTTA AZZURRA- ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL JEWELS OF USTICA- FAMOUS FOR THE SPECTACULAR CHROMATIC PHENOMENA WHICH CAN BE OBSERVED INSIDE IT. THE ELEGANTLY FURNISHED ROOMS- ALL WITH TERRACE- LOOK OUT OVER THE SEA FROM A PANORAMIC LOCATION ABOVE THE CLIFF. AS THE FIRST PLACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN TO BE DECLARED A NATURAL MARINE RESERVE- THE ISLAND OF USTICA- 36 MILES FROM THE SICILIAN COAST- IS TODAY A TRUE