Ischia tourist information
Situated in the Western part of the Bay of Naples, Ischia is the largest of the Neapolitan islands and one of the most attractive places in the surroundings of Naples (from which it is 17,5 miles away). It is of volcanic origin and its present structure is the result of a complex geologic evolution started in the Pliocene. The first eruption is the one of Mount Corvo, occurred in 2200 B.C., while the latest one took place in 1301-1302 and caused the making of Molina Point, called Arso or Cremato.
Situated in the Western part of the Bay of Naples, Ischia is the largest of the Neapolitan islands and one of the most attractive places in the surroundings of Naples (from which it is 17,5 miles away). It is of volcanic origin and its present structure is the result of a complex geologic evolution started in the Pliocene. The first eruption is the one of Mount Corvo, occurred in 2200 B.C., while the latest one took place in 1301-1302 and caused the making of Molina Point, called Arso or Cremato. The strong volcanic activity and the sea erosion are responsible for the rich landscape of the island; it is characterized by a succession of volcanos and craters, and by an indented coastline. The highest peak of the island is Mt. Epomeo (788 m.), followed by Mt.Tripodi (503 m.), Mt.Vezzi (395 m.), the Campagnano (334 m.), Mt.Rotondo (266 m.), the Montagnone (255 m.), Mt.Vico (116 m.) and Mt.Tabor (95 m.). It has also suffered from violent earthquakes, like the one that in 1833 destroyed Casamicciola, which already was a renowned holiday resort. Ischia has an area of 46,3 sq.Km., and a diameter of 34 km; the population amounts to 46.984 inhabitants living in 6 communes: Barano, Casamicciola Terme, Forio, Ischia, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana.
The local economy is undoubtedly based on the tourist industry which is active from April to September, with July and August being the peak season. Tourists are attracted by the natural beauties of the island, but Ischia is mostly renowned for its several hot springs. Its mineral waters, which result from the volcanic nature of the island, and have highly therapeutic properties, were already well-known in the ancient times; they were particularly appreciated by the Romans. In his "Natural History" Pliny sings the praises of the island and remarks that it was also mentioned by Homer in "Iliad". Blessed with precious natural resources and with a wonderful climate, the island of Ischia can boast an excellent and first-rate hotel accomodation. Comfortable spas are spread all over the island, but the best ones are in Casamicciola, Lacco Ameno and Forio. Agriculture is the second most important source of production . The island is grown up with vineyards, olive-groves and orchards along the coast, and with grain inland. Ischia is commonly known as "Green Island" because of its luxuriant vegetation; particularly rich is the Mediterranean bush which covers most of the island; chestnut woods and pine-woods are thickly-planted. Fishery is widely practised, in spite of the increasing impoverishment of the sea. Other remarkable sources of production are the trachytic pumice quarrying, the Casamicciola production of ceramics and the Lacco Ameno straw handicraft. The local cuisine derives from the Neapolitan one, and it mostly includes fish specialities. Special dishes are fish-soup, fried mullets and squids, aubergine parmigiana and rabbit "alla Ischitana" (after the manner of Ischia). Since the ancient times vine-growing has been of great importance; the Etruscans in fact called Ischia "the vineland". Here are produced excellent wines, first of all the red wine which is considered one of the best Italian red wines. Among the different species of vines there are the white grapes San leonardo and the black grapes Per' e palummo, Barbera and Cannamele.
Remains of the early settlement in the island have been found out in its Eastern part, on St.Michele hill. They probably were Italic people native of Ischia and descendant from Pelasgi. The prehistoric period of Ischia is still wrapped up in legend, even if from different sources we know that the islands of the Bay of Naples were already populated in the 3rd millennium B.C. In the 8th century B.C. the island was colonized by the Greeks coming from Euboea, called Calcidesi, who settled in the promontory of Mount Vico and fostered a great industrial, commercial and cultural development. They called the island "Pithecusa", which means "monkeys island" and refers to Cercopi, the mythical evil inhabitants of volcanic islands, looking like monkeys. According to Pliny, the name meant "clay island" or "potters island", and it referred to the ceramic art which has flourished here since the ancient times. Virgil named the island "Inarime"; only in 813 the present name was used for the first time by Leone III in a letter to Charlemagne. It derives from the Latin word "insula", then changed into "iscla"; some say that it probably derives from "ischra" meaning "black island" in the Semitic languages. In 474 B.C. the Syracusan tyrant Jerone, who had been called by the Cumaeans to fight against the Etruscans, after having defeated them, left in the island a blockhouse, on which he had the castle built. After a tremendous eruption, the Syracusans fled the island, which was occupied by the Neapolitans. The Roman age gradually succeeded the Hellenic one and the starting of the new age was marked in the 2nd century B.C. by the destruction of Pithecusa by an earthquake. From the 1st century B.C. on, the island was called Aenaria, maybe from the Greek word "oinos", meaning "wine-producing land".
Under the Roman rule its industries and its port developed rapidly and it became a holiday resort of renown, having relations with the most advanced centres of the Mediterranean basin. A long period of incursions and occupations followed the flourishing of the Roman age; Ischia was in fact invaded by the Goths and by the Eruli, it was then governed by the Byzantines in 558 and then given back to Naples in 588; from 661 on it was under the rule of the Naples dukedom. Between 800-1000 it was repeatedly ravaged by the Saracens, and then conquered by the Normans and by the Swabians. Invaded by the Genoeses and by the Pisans, it passed to the Angevins in 1265. In 1483, after a long struggle, the Aragoneses had the better of the Angevins at last with Alphonso of Aragon, under whom an overall revival started. He especially promoted the restoration and the embellishment of the castle, which became the favourite abode of the d'Avalos family. After the death of the last member of the d'Avalos family, Ischia became State Property in 1729. In 1734 it was conquered by the Bourbons, and in 1799 the English put down a revolt against the royal government. In 1806 the island was occupied by the French, who drove back an English attack that, though, caused the island heavy damages. Since then on the history of Ischia is strictly connected with the History of Naples.
Starting out from the town of Ischia, an interesting tour of the island can be made running along the no.270 highway; the road connects all the towns and offers remarkable panoramic views, especially along the Southern coast of the island. Ischia is the main centre of the island as for population and trade, and as thermal and seaside resort. It is situated in the Eastern part of the Northern coast, and includes Ischia Ponte, that is the characteristic ancient section consisting of a fishermen village around the castle, and Ischia Porto, the modern section comprised between the pine wood and the sea. Thanks to its several beaches, the beautiful pine wood, the enchanting views and the old bathing establishments, Ischia draws most of the island tourists. Running along the Northern coast of the island, after Ischia one meets Casamicciola Terme which lies on the Northern slopes of Mt.Epomeo. It was one of the best places to be occupied by the Greek colonizers. According to legend, the Cumaean Sybil predicted here the coming of Christ. Here sojourned illustrious men like the dramatist Ibsen, Ernest Renan and Garibaldi. This one stayed here for a long while to treat the consequenses of the wound received in Aspromonte. Casamicciola is in fact one of the most renowned Thermal resort in the world; of its hot springs particularly note-worthy is the Gurgitiello one.
Being rich in vineyards, Casamicciola covers most of the island wine produce; ceramics developed since ancient times producing valuable pieces. The port of Casamicciola is the second one of the island. In the Western part of the Northern coast is Lacco Ameno, colonized by the Greeks since the 7th century B.C., as it is proved by the precious funeral fittings found out in 1952 in the St. Montano plain. The Romans called it Heraclium, maybe from the ancient Hercules worship. Here a Christian community arose after the finding of the Carthaginian Virgin martyr St.Restituta in a boat miraculously landed here in 304. A catacomb, successively changed into basilica, was built in order to bury her. The worship of St.Restituta expanded among the people who later chose her as patron saint of the island. Every year sumptuous celebrations are given in her honour. A singular rock, shaped like a mushroom, is a symbol of the town; millenary erosion have moulded it from the original tufa block of Epomeo. Local people call it "big stone". Lacco Ameno has beneficial hot springs and can boast an excellent tourist industry. About halfway down the Western coast one meets Forio, which has been renowned for its hot springs since the ancient times and particularly during the Roman period. The Romans liked best the hot springs of the beautiful beach of Citara, that they dedicated to the worship of Venus Citarea and Apollo the healer. Suffering heavily from enemy incursions since the 9th century, Forio built for defence 12 tufa towers from which it is called "many-towered". Rich in beautiful churches, Forio is a picturesque town, which plays an important part in the local production of wine. Serrara Fontana is situated on a Southern ridge of Mount Epomeo at an altitude of over 400 m. above sea level, so being the highest town in the island. It is a charming rural place with wonderful views, the most breath-taking being the panoramic view of the Bay of Naples, which can be enjoyed from a belvedere-terrace. From here one can make an excursion to Mount Epomeo and to the caves of Fontana, very deep gorges hollowed out of the tufa by water and wind erosion. Under the same territorial jurisdiction is the characteristic fishermen village of Sant'Angelo: it is situated between two bays formed by an isthmus which links the mainland with the promontory bearing the same name; on it the remains of the St.Angelo tower can still be seen.
The imposing and mysterious Mount Epomeo, which is 788 m. high, dominates the whole island with its peaks. It is of greenish tufa and its complex volcanic evolution has characterized the history of the island. From the top of it can be enjoyed an enchanting panoramic view which covers a distance of 108 kilometers. Full of suggestion is climb Full of suggestion is climbing the mountain before dawn, when one can enjoy the sight of the last lights of the island and of the Bay of Naples and then the sunrise. On Mount Epomeo can also be visited the Hermitage and the little church of St.Nicola, both dug out of the tufa. On the South-Eastern slopes of Mount Epomeo is situated the picturesque town of Barano. It is a rural centre with a wonderful beach, the Maronti beach, which is rich in hot springs and fumaroles. Worthy of note are the caves and the fumaroles of the Cavascura deep valley and the hot springs of Nitrodi and Olmitello, all reachable from the beach.
