ISCHIA TOP 10 THINGS TO DO

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If you want to relax, Ischia is the right place. As a volcanic (dormant) island rich in thermal waters , Ischia offers numerous thermal parks, gardens and spas center.

Ischia 10 things to do

1) SORGETO BAY

The 234 steps to afford to get to the Bay of Sorgeto in Ischia will reward your efforts especially during low season: the hot springs from the underground cross the sea water, creating pools and natural swimming pools of different sizes and temperature. You can choose boiling water, warm or cold as in the best spas, but for free, and all over the year.

Obviously the Sorgeto Bay attracts many locals and even tourists, so it might be hard to find a little room for your bag. We suggest you to go there early in the morning or in the evening, even at night, because the water temperature does not change. Sometimes you can get there also by boat from Sant’Angelo but the service is influenced by too many variables to make sure that it is always available! You can park your car in the Punta resort parking (4euro car and 2euro motocycle for the entire day) or by bus to Panza , ask the stop of Sorgeto.

2) THE ARAGONESE CASTLE

Ticket 12$ Everyday 9.30 am – 7 pm

The massive symbol of the island, a must see on the green island, is connected to the mainland by a bridge rebuilt several times over the centuries because sometimes the sea takes him away. In 474 BC the Greeks took refuge on this island to defend against enemies but was Alfonso of Aragon, in 1441, to turn it into a fortified citadel. Instead of the lift, you can choose to get to the top through the tunnel in the rock and you will notice the vents in the roof built to launch boiling oil and stones against enemies

Today the castle must only defend itself from the tourists that climb to visit the Church of the Assumption with the crypt, the Convent of the Poor Clares and especially the views of the Gulf of Naples.

3) THE BURG OF SANT’ANGELO

The burg with colorful houses, in fact, is for pedestrians and it is not easy to reach (it’s connected by a single bus, usually very crowded, and the trip from Ischia Porto takes about one hour or by car there are 3 parking quite expensive).

When you arrive at the town you see the typical Mediterranean city , white or colored homes, narrow streets, souvenir shops, ice cream shops, restaurants and bars. Compared to the rest of the island it is stunning the tranquillity and the absence of motor vehicles. From the small harbor there are boats that take tourists to the Maronti beach (high recommended for relaxers ) while with an uphill walk there is the Aphrodite-Apollon Thermal Park.

4) THE CHURCH OF SOCCORS IN FORIO D’ISCHIA

This white church is small but with an extraordinary charm and it is located on a promontory overlooking the sea. It is there because the sailors had to see it from afar and understand that they were going back home.

The church has different architectural styles but the most interesting subject is the ex -voto of sailors hung everywhere as thank for surviving the storm. Not far from the church there is the Torrione Forio, the other symbol of the town of Ischia.

In the centuries it helped to save the population of Forio and Ischia , because from this tower started the first warning when invaders came from the sea.

Today it houses an art gallery and a small municipal museum. Forio is one of the most peacefully towns of the island and offers pleasant walks, squares and a little of shopping along the main street.

5) THE THERMAL GARDENS

The Poseidon

The Romans, who appreciated the spa treatments, were enjoying the thermal waters of Ischia when the rest of the world was still living in a state of barbarism.

The most famous are Poseidon Gardens Spa, but even the Aphrodite Gardens, Eden Tropical, Terme di Castiglione, Bagnitiello, Negombo and Cavascura deserve a relaxing day. What have these parks? The ticket is expensive but you can choose between swimming pools with different temperature water, waterfalls, Kneipp treatments, saunas and the access to the sea through a private beach. There are services for the beauty and wellness, such as massages, mud treatments, gyms and so on. The gardens and parks have terrace with loungers and beach umbrella, restaurants, bars.

6) THE BEACHES

– Cava dell’Isola (Forio) You can reach this beach via a long flight of steps carved directly into the volcanic stone. This is a free public beach, popular among the younger set and groups of friends, as it is not recommended for families with young children as the water is deep and the sea floor rocky. There are two restaurants (pizza or seafood).

– San Francisco (Forio) This beach is set under the lava (stone cliffs of Punta Caruso) and there is a small free beach and a few beach clubs. Famous for its shades of blue and turquoise.

– La Scannella (Forio) This private beach club is set on the cove between Punta Imperatore and Monte di Panza, and is ideal for those who want to relax for the day in peace even in the most crowded weeks of August, as the umbrellas and chairs are reserved for guests and must be booked days in advance (260 steps to reach the club). There are pools of warm and cool water, private terraces, and crystalline sea. There isn’t a beach but rocks along the coastline so not recommended for children.

– Cavagrado The small beach is located in Succhivio, not far from the hamlet of Sant’Angelo, It’s a small beach set between two lava cliffs, and there are a few natural springs that bubble up from under the sea, making the water a relaxing warm temperature. You can reach the beach via a long flight of steps, but the effort is worth it as this beach is generally very quiet, has clear water, and an excellent restaurant where you can stop for lunch.

– I Maronti (Barano) This is the longest on the island and includes private beach clubs, stretches of free public beach, cafès, bars, and restaurants. There are a number of natural hot springs along the border of the beach.

– La Spiaggia dei Pescatori is located between Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte, and was once a harbor for local fishermen. Still today there are traditional colorful fishing boats along the shore near the free public beach and the beach clubs; there are a number of fish and seafood restaurants along the beach, as well.

7) LACCO AMENO & CASAMICCIOLA

Lacco Ameno is located between Casamicciola and Forio and is the smallest town on the island.

In the 1950s, Italian publisher Angelo Rizzoli fell in love with Lacco Ameno, and made the 18th-century Villa Arbusto his island residence. He immediately understood the area’s potential for tourism, and built Ischia’s first luxury hotel here, the Regina Isabella. This resort with a private beach, pool, restaurant, and spa was the model for future spa grand hotels in other areas of the island, and soon the international jet set began to discover the charms of Ischia, for decades overshadowed by the neighboring hot spot of Capri.

Casamicciola is located on Ischia’s northern coast and is renowned for its thermal springs. After visits by the Greeks and pirates (the locals are said to have hidden in a nearby cave), the town’s renown as a spa spread in 1607, when a free thermal spa centre was set up for the poor. The thermal springs, along with a modern marina, are the town’s greatest attractions.

Casamicciola was devastated by the earthquake of 1883, and was subsequently rebuilt. From Piazza Majo, in the upper town, energetic visitors can head upwards towards Monte Epomeo, the island’s highest mountain and admire panoramic views.

The area’s sights include Casa Ibsen, where the playwright stayed, and the Castiglione, once a Greek fortress and now a thermal spa centre.

8) LA MORTELLA BOTANIC

Gardens Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Located in Forio (the bus stop is at a few hundred meters from the gardens) , they are the work of Lady Susana Walton, wife of the English composer William Walton, who strongly wanted them in their house in Ischia.

Today they are managed by a private foundation that takes care of them: the entrance ticket is 12 euros: well spent money!

For those interested, you can, at the weekend, buy a ticket which in total, with only 20 euro, allows to attend also a concert inside (for concert programs click here) .

9) ITALIAN FOODIE HEAVEN

if you like the italian food , you will enjoy Ischia signature foods. Ischia has an important mountain (Monte Epomeo) where many products of the land come from. Obviously you’ll find also seafood dishes: fried anchovies, polyps in casserole , tuna and swordfish on the grill. But the first dish par excellence is the bucatini with the sauce of Ischia rabbit. The desserts are not different from the Neapolitan tradition and there are some important like those made with lemon: la Delizia ( Delight). Good supply of white and red wines such as Per’ e Palammo, Biancolella, the Foresta Nera, Piedirosso and the Ischia. The typical liquor of the island is the Rucolino, prepared with the island’s wild rocket. Good to drink and great to take home as a souvenir.

10) WHERE TO SLEEP

During the holidays of Spring and in July and August, finding a cheap accommodation could be very difficult. For these periods, therefore, I recommend you to book in advance.

If you are looking for a hotel in Ischia, I suggest you to choose among those offered by Booking.com. There are about 200 hotels with prices, pictures and comments of guests already stayed there or AirbnB where ,with the arrival of summer, many homes are transformed into a place to sleep.

Last time I booked the fantastic Punta Chiarito Resort.

COSTIERA SORRENTINA & AMALFITANA

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