by Guiseppe Longo
Ponte Aragonsky Castle photo by Pastorius/Wikimedia
The most beautiful and largest island in the Gulf of Naples island's is 47 square kilometers. With its volcanic origins and its thermal spas, some of the largest in the world: 67 fumaroles, 103 springs and 29 thermal spas that can help to cure illnesses, tone up your body and spirit or simply help you relax. It has unequalled natural beauty and a all-year-round mild climate.
Arrival By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport offers connections to all Italian cities and major European destinations with traditional or low-cost airline companies. From the airport the "Alibus" shuttle service takes you directly to the port of Naples "Molo Beverello". The nearest Intercontinental Airport is Rome's Fiumicino, with the possibility of getting to Naples by air besides the train.
By train: The Central Station of Naples is well connected to all of Italy. For times consult the Trenitalia site. When you reach the station you must continue by taxi or bus to Beverello Wharf or take metro Line 2 up to Mergellina, for boarding.
By sea: Many hydrofoils and ferries leave from Naples to three ports in Ischia; some make a stop at the island of Procida. In Naples there are two ports for departures: from Beverello Wharf depart the ferries and hydrofoils to Ischia Porto, Forio and Casamicciola and from Naples Mergellina hydrofoils leave for Ischia Porto and Forio. Companies in charge of providing these services are: Caremar, Alilauro and Snav.
By car: By car, when you reach the motorway exit, you should take the Naples ring road and proceed towards Pozzuoli until you reach the Via Campana junction. Then follow the signs for the port of Pozzuoli (departures for Pozzuoli and Caremar ferries), or else carry on down the motorway to the "Scali Marittimi" exit and follow the signs for Beverello quay (departures for Lauro and Caremar ferries and Lauro and Caremar hydrofoils).
Transport Bus: The public bus service connects quite good the various centres of the island through frequent journeys, most of them having their terminus in the town of Ischia Porto close to the harbour. The charge for a single journey (valid 90 minutes) amounts to 1.20, but is also possible to purchase tickets with a wider validity at cheap prices. These tickets can be bought at very numerous shops (notably newsstands, bars, travel agencies and tobacconist's).
Car: Using a car is always possible, but please pay attention to the numerous no parkings situated in the town centres, where it is advisable only to park either in the public or in the private parking areas (on charge). In some towns (and anyway in certain well defined street areas) it is allowed to park by showing a pre-paid ticket, which costs about 1 Euro and is valid for an hour. Obviously, it is possible to hire a car on the island as well as a motor-bicycle or a bicycle, at the numerous rental centres located in each town.
Ischia harbor photo by ischia-hotel-.net/wikimedia
History and Culture According to the most recent theories, the island of Ischia, has volcanic origins. In fact the Greek myth of Tifeo sees him as a volcanism personification: the rebellious giant who was condemned by Jupiter at the foot of the island of Pithecusae (Greek Pithekoussai), today's Ischia, erupting flames and hot boiling water and causing earthquakes by its movement.
In Ischia, like in all the other territories of recent volcanic activity, volcanism left its mark influencing human settlements. There are too many gaps concerning the island population during prehistory, so that we still do not know how volcanic phenomena influenced the life of the islanders.
As matter of fact Neolithic Age materials are sporadic and isolated. The most important archaeological finds come from the Cilento locality. Together with some fragments of ceramic, archaeologists also found some terra-cotta weights for fishing nets and some stone tools, in particular some knife blades and tools residual flakes made of flint and obsidian.
Then, during the first half of 8th century B.C. and after the extrusion of a near eruptive vein, the village situated (from the Bronze Age and until the First Iron Age) on the Castiglione's hill, between Porto d'Ischia and Casamicciola, was completely abandoned.
Churches and Museums Sanctuary of Santa Restituita The original structure of the church in Lacco Armeno dates back to the Paleo-Christian era (4-5th century A.D.): The current basilica was built around the year 1000 on top of the remains of the first building. Over the years it has undergone some changes. the wooden statues of Santa Restituita, dating back to 1500, that is kept in the church together with some of the saint’s remains, is worthy of note.
Church of Soccorso photo by Mac9/Wikimedia
Church of Soccorso This tiny white-washed church is located in a truly spectacular position: in the square on the Punta del Soccorso in Forio, that looks out onto the crystal clear sea. A typically Mediterranean site of astounding beauty.
Museo La Mortella William Walton, one of Britain's most important contemporary composers lived on Ischia since 1949. "La Mortella" is the magnificent garden, recently opened to the public, that he and his wife Susana built on the hill of Zaro, an attractive and evocative corner of the island. The garden was started in 1956, it was wrested from a gigantic stone quarry of volcanic origin and was designed to give relief to the composer from his exacting work, by Russell Page, the eminent landscape architect. The Museum holds an interesting collection of photographs of the composer and his friends taken by the fashionable artist Cecil Beaton, a much admired forerunner of taste The well known and loved designer, Lele Luzzati, has left his imprint in "the theatre within a theatre", depicting a fabled garden peopled by the characters out of the composer's most important works. The William Walton Trust and the Fondazione, whose Patron is H.R.R. The Prince of Wales, organise a yearly prestigious masterclass for talented young singers.
The Archaeological Museum of Pithecusae The Pithecusae Archaeological Museum is located at the main building of Villa Arbusto, in Lacco Ameno. The Villa was built in 1785 by Don Carlo Acquaviva, Duke of Atri, in the same place where was once a farm called dellarbusto (arbusto means shrub , in this case the reference is to a particular plant growing in the garden surrounding the building). The Villa had many owners , until 1952, when it was purchased by the publisher and movie producer Angelo Rizzoli who sponsored the reconstruction of the ancient thermal bath, the construction of some big hotels and the restoration of Piazza Restituta in the town centre of Lacco Ameno. Villa Arbusto is not only the seat of the Pithecusae Museum, but has a splendid garden, open to the public. In the Museum there are many archaeological findings dating back from the Prehistory to the Romans Age. On the ground floor there is the a Geological section , which shows how the presence of the volcano affected life on the island.
Museo del Mare This museum is in Ischia Ponte and is housed in Palazzo dell’Orologio. It the home for an important collection of old nautical instruments and fishing equipment, and also models of boats, sailing ships and fishing boats that sailed from the island’s ports.
Museo del Contadino This interesting museum is in Panza surrounding Forio, housed in the D’Ambra wines factory. You can relive the real farmer’s life on the island by looking at the objects in the museum: from original equipment that the farmers used on the land to the wine amphora (terracotta containers) of all sizes.
Historical buildings and monuments Castello Aragonese It's built in 474 B. C. on a rock near the island, by Gerone. At the same time, two towers were built to control enemy fleet's movements. The rock was then occupied by Partenopei (the ancient inhabitants of Naples). In 326 A. C. the fortress was captured by Romans, and then again by Partenopei. Alfonso of Aragon in 1441 D.C. connected the rock to the island through a stone bridge instead of a previous wood bridge, and wanted the walls were fortified in order to defend the inhabitants against the raids of pirates. About in 1700 on the islet, used to live about 2000 families. On the same rock there were 13 churchs. In 1912, the Castle was sold to a private owner. Today the Castle is the most visited monument of the island. The small island is about 113 meters high and the climb can be made on an old mule track or by using a modern elevator that was installed in the seventies.
Places of Interest The Thermal Spas Ischia’s thermal spas tradition goes back a long way: some bas-relief works are kept in the National Archeological Museum in Lacco Ameno that date back to the Roman Empire, which are proof of the fact that the water spilling from the island’s springs was used to cure various illnesses at that time too. If you want to get psychologically-physically fit again, we recommend you take a dip in one of the thermal spa pools in the Ischia hotels and then choose personalized treatments depending on your needs: thermal mud packs, massages or inhaling thermal vapors – these are all perfect cures for respiratory problems. If instead you are searching for direct contact with nature, you can try one of the island’s natural spas, where you can swim in thermal water mixed with sea water.
Fungo Island photo by Gerd Fahrenhorst/Wikimedia
The “Fungo” (Mushroom) at Lacco Ameno In the thermal spa resort of Lacco Ameno, which is the smallest one on the island, there is an interesting geological phenomenon that is joined to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. It is a block of tufa rock 10 meters high that has taken on the shape of a mushroom through years and years of being eroded away by the water that laps against it.
The Botanical Park in the Mortella Gardens This wonderful park is located at Forio d’Ischia and was originally the property of the English composer William Walton, who lived in the Villa next door with his wife. When the composer arrived on the island in 1946, he immediately called a botanical expert from England to lay out the garden, planting wonderful tropical and Mediterranean plants, some of which have now reached amazing proportions. The garden extends over an area of 16.000 square metres and holds a collection of over 1,000 different rare and exotic plants.A welcoming tea-house perches on the hillside where, accompanied by the strains of Sir William's music, you can taste several different English teas, from Fortnum and Mason, or order a 'Cappuccino'. While in a hidden corner at the top of the hill, a charming Thai Sala looks over the lotus pool and invites you to reflection and contemplation accompanied by the soft sound of the stream that sparkles in the sun while wending its way down to the crocodile cascade.
Faiano Pine Forest The island’s largest pine forest is located in the borough of Barano, an ideal place for an afternoon trip amidst nature. This fresh, regenerating oasis allows you to walk in the shade of the pine trees, the chestnut trees and oak trees that are interspersed with the characteristic Mediterranean perfumed trees and masses of lava rock that make the whole scene a magical, mysterious one.
Mount Epomeo This is the island’s highest mountain. It was once an active volcano, that shook quiet Ischia life several times with its violent eruptions. Luxurious vines and fruit trees now grow on its fertile soil. If you want to climb Epomeo, you can go up to a certain point in your car on an asphalt road, and then continue on foot for about 3 km. You will realize it was worth it when you reach the top: The view is amazing and you can see the church of San Nicola built into the mountain’s green tufa rock as well as the panorama spread out before you.
Events Vinischia - July An event that is entirely dedicated to food and wine and Campania regional crafts. It has been organized each summer since 1999 at Torre Guevara at Ischia Ponte. Shows, concerts and dances are organized around the exhibitions and the food and wine tasting.
Settembre sul Sagarato - August and September A village festival has been organized every year since 1988 in Ischia, that is held in Piazzale Battistessa, opposite the Church of San Pietro. The festival lasts for two weeks and is filled with painting exhibitions, parades of traditional costumes, wine tasting, “fagiolate” (bean stew tasting), concerts and shows.
Festa della “Ndrezzata” - Easter Monday The “Festa della “Ndrezzata” is held in the village of Buonopane, near Barano every Easter Monday. The “Ndrezzata”, is a typical dance from the island. It is a kind of rhythmic, violent and picturesque fight where the dancers are dressed in traditional island costumes and fight each other with wooden swords.
Festa di Sant’Anna - 26 July The Festa di Sant’Anna is held on July 26th each year in the borough of Ischia. On that occasion, there is a sea parade of figurative boats from the island’s various boroughs and also from Procida, under the Castello Aragonese. The parade ends with a prize-giving ceremony and fireworks. The festival is watched by an enthusiastic public.
Foreign Film Festival - June A cinema festival with premieres and retrospective themes dedicated to films located in Europe, especially Italy. Ischia, for example, was one of the favorite locations for films made in Italy from the 1950s onwards. Some of the films made here are “Vacanze a Ischia” with Vittorio De Sica, the colossal “Cleopatra” with Richard Burton and Liz Taylor and the more recent film “The Talent of Mr Ripley” with Matt Damon and Jude Law.
Suggested Hotels in Ischia
Il Moresco Hotel - Charming hotel with its own private beach. Easy leisurly walk to great restaurants and shopping. Staff is top notch and makes this hotel a joy to stay at.
Hotel Parco Smeraldo Terme - Amazing outdoor thermal pool you will enjoy spending some relax during your stay. You can't beat their restaurant that has a marvelous menu, it has everything from gourmet to food your kids will love.
Villalieta - If you prefer staying where you can get to know the people of Ischia on a more personal level then you might want to stay at the Lillalieta Bed and Breakfast. A warm inviting room is what you will find with fabulous views of Ponte Aragonsky Castle. If you like the pampering of a spa vacation its a just few minutes walk to the famous Giardini Eden thermal spas.
