Ischia, the most beautiful island in the world according to Travel+Leisure magazine, may be the perfect place to recharge your batteries and fill up on beauty. It is about 50 minutes by hydrofoil or ferry from Naples.
Ischia, the most beautiful island in the world according to Travel+Leisure magazine, may be the perfect place to recharge your batteries and fill up on beauty. It is about 50 minutes by hydrofoil or ferry from Naples.
This island is a beautiful spot in the Mediterranean. There are amazing views from every corner. Ischia is like a mini-world, with great beaches, cool castles, shopping streets with awesome local brands, and awesome nightlife.
The Aragonese Castle is the most famous postcard of Ischia, no doubt. It's located in Ischia Ponte, a village connected to the mainland by a stone isthmus built by Alfonso V of Aragon.
A comfortable lift will take you to the top, where you can see the breathtaking panorama, as well as the remains of the Assunta Cathedral, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and the cemetery of the Poor Clares.
The picturesque village of Ischia Ponte is just a short walk from the fortress. It's an ancient village of peasants and fishermen, now one of the main landing places on the island. It's still as beautiful as ever, with its narrow streets overlooking elegant buildings and low, colourful houses.
The Soccorso Church is one of the two most iconic landmarks on the island of Ischia, along with the Aragonese Castle. It's in Forio, with a view of the sea, and close to the historic centre. The church is Mediterranean with very simple lines--no great works of art. But, the scene it's set in is one of a kind in the world.
There are a bunch of "ex voto" inside, with big paintings and canvases of shipwrecks, which show how devoted the Ischia fishermen were. The churchyard is great too--you can see the ocean and the amazing sunsets over on the west side of the island.
Even if there are only a few days available, you cannot miss a visit to Sant'Angelo, in the municipality of Serra Fontana, also called "little Capri" due to the similarity of its square and narrow streets with the other, known Campania island.
It's an old fishing village of white houses that you can only reach on foot. It's connected to the peninsula by a 119-metre isthmus. The perfect way to end the day is with a walk and an aperitif on the seafront.
Ischia's beaches, villages and ancient ruins make it special, so museums--particularly the archaeological one of Villa Arbusto, which holds the island's excavated findings--are definitely worth a visit.
The most famous exhibit in the museum is a Greek terracotta vase from the eighth century B.C. Three verses from the time of Homer were found on it, which refer to the mythical "Nestor's Cup". This find is pretty extraordinary--it's the oldest Homeric poem found in its original draft.
Visiting Ischia also means immersing yourself in the charm of the worldly life that characterises it, and the best way is to spend the evening at the "Rive Droite", the right bank of Ischia Porto, where the most popular clubs and discos are concentrated.
An island frequented by stars and famous people could not fail to have a shopping street. Therefore, among the places to visit in Ischia Porto, Via Roma, with its high fashion shop windows and luxury boutiques, should not be missed.
La Mortella Garden is also pretty cool--it was created by Susana Walton, wife of the famous English composer William Walton, and contains two botanical gardens, one with subtropical plants and one with typical Mediterranean vegetation.
The Poseidon Terme Gardens are located in Forio, at the bottom of Citara bay. They're open from mid-April to October, and they're one of Ischia's tourist attractions. It's a great place to spend a day surrounded by the lush vegetation of the Punta Imperatore hill.
There are twenty-two swimming pools (two of which, plus the Olympic swimming pool, are also suitable for children), all with direct access to the sea, and an equipped beach. In short, the thirty euros you spend on the ticket is worth it; you're at the top.
The Nitrodi spring's thermal waters can be drunk in Ischia, which the Italian Ministry of Health believes is beneficial for purifying kidneys, treating gastritis and ulcer, and even healing wounds.
If you love spending your days at the beach, you'll love it here. Just pick which type of beach you prefer. Chiaia in Forio d'Ischia is a large, comfortable beach, so it's also one of the most crowded. Also in Forio is Cava dell'Isola, connected to the road by a long series of steps. It's quieter than Chiaia, has clear water, and is well served by three restaurant-bars.
The Bay of San Montano is one of the most beautiful on the island, with clear waters and fine golden sand.
The Maronti beach has volcanic, dark and fine sand, and you can reach it by boat from Sant'Angelo or from the upper road. There are also some thermal springs that go into the sea, like Cavascura.
Nature and trekking enthusiasts can discover lots of paths with authentic landscape treasures, which are less well known, and possibly go with expert guides.
The climb to Mount Epomeo, at 789 meters above sea level, is an experience that can be safely done all year round. From Piazza IV Novembre, in Fontana, the summit is just over an hour away on foot. Waiting at the top, the ancient hermitage of San Nicola, a small Augustinian convent entirely excavated in the soft green tuff.
The panorama takes in the whole island, and on the clearest days you can even see the Circeo archipelago in lower Lazio. So, don't forget the camera!