Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. The roughly trapezoidal island lies about 30 km from Naples and measures around 10 km east to west and 7 km north to south with a 34 kilometres (21 mi) coastline and a surface area of 46.3 square kilometres (17.9 sq mi). It is almost entirely mountainous, with the highest peak being Mount Epomeo at 788 meters. The island has a population of over 60,000 people. Ischia is the name of the main comune of the island. Other community areas include Barano d’Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Forio, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana.
The main industry is tourism, centering on thermal spas that cater mostly to European (especially German) and Asian tourists eager to enjoy the fruits of the island’s natural volcanic activity, its thermal hot springs, and its volcanic mud. For many of the inhabitants on the Italian-speaking island, German and English are second languages. This is because of the large number of German- and English-speaking tourists who visit the island each year.
Today, Ischia is a popular tourist destination, welcoming up to 6 million visitors per year, mainly from the Italian mainland as well as Germany (approximately 5,000 Germans are resident on the island), although it has become an increasingly popular destination for the well-to-do Eastern Europeans (particularly Russia and Poland). Ischia is easily reached by ferry from Naples, with an approximate travel time of between 40 minutes and one hour. The number of thermal spas on the islands makes it particularly popular with tourists seeking “wellness” holidays. Main sights are:
The Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese, Ischia Ponte) was built on a rock near the island in 474 BC, by Hiero I of Syracuse. At the same time, two towers were built to control enemy fleets’ movements.
The Gardens of La Mortella are located in Forio-San Francesco
The Gardens of Villa Ravino. A botanical garden, located in Forio-Citara Bay, resulting of 50 years of great passion and loving work of Captain Giuseppe D’Ambra, the owner of the Villa.
Villa La Colombaia is located in Lacco Ameno and Forio territories. Surrounded by a park, the villa (called “The Dovecote”) was made by Luigi Patalano, a famous local socialist and journalist.
Sant’Angelo, in the comune of Serrara-Fontana
Maronti Beach in Barano d’Ischia
Church of the Soccorso’ in Forio
Bay of Sorgeto with hot thermal springs in Panza
Poseidon Gardens – spa with several thermal pools in Panza
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