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The island of Ischia covers an area of approximately 46 square kilometres and administratively comprises six municipalities: Barano d’Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Forio d’Ischia, Ischia, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana. Known as the “Green Island” thanks to its unspoilt nature and trails that captivate trekking enthusiasts, Ischia is a destination that, thanks to its mild climate, is ideal to visit year-round.
Visiting the island of Ischia, you’ll find it hard not to be enchanted by its golden beaches, crystal-clear waters and excellent culinary tradition. Ischia is also renowned as one of Europe’s locations with the highest concentration of thermal springs, which are genuine thermal garden parks featuring pools of varying temperatures, waterfalls, mud treatments and private beach areas that attract thousands of visitors each year.
A symbol of Ischia, the Aragonese Castle stands on a small island connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. The earliest records of this castle’s existence date back to the 5th century BC, when Hiero, tyrant of Syracuse, built an initial settlement in this area. In the 2nd century AD, a volcanic eruption caused the ground to subside, isolating the Castle from the rest of Ischia, so the islet on which the castle stood became known as “Insula minor” (Lesser Island) to distinguish it from Ischia’s “Insula major” (Greater Island).
The castle’s current quadrangular layout with walls and towers is the work of Alfonso V of Aragon, who drew inspiration from the Castel Nuovo in Naples. After serving as a prison for those serving life sentences, from the early 20th century the Castle was acquired by the Mattera family, who undertook its restoration and continue to manage it today.
Currently the complex, besides the Castle, includes the remains of the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Church of the Immaculate and the cemetery of the Poor Clare sisters. Via a lift, you can ascend to the top of the structure and enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Gulf of Naples. In summer, the Castle also hosts cultural events, theatre festivals and the renowned Ischia Film Festival.
The Poseidon Gardens represent the largest and most prestigious thermal park on the island of Ischia, located in the enchanting Citara Bay. This wellness paradise spreads across 60,000 square metres of terraces sloping towards the sea, offering a unique combination of thermal springs, nature and relaxation.
The complex boasts 20 thermal pools with temperatures ranging from 28° to 40°C. Each pool has specific therapeutic properties: the Olympic Pool (28°C) is ideal for swimming and physical activity, the two Kneipp pools (15°C and 40°C) are designed to stimulate circulation through the alternation of hot and cold water, the Japanese baths, immersed in a zen garden, offer temperatures between 25° and 40°C, perfect for muscle relaxation, whilst the sun grotto (38°C) is a covered pool particularly suitable for respiratory issues.
The Poseidon Gardens beach stretches for 700 metres along Citara Bay. The area is fully equipped with elegant sunshades and designer loungers to guarantee maximum comfort for guests. The privileged position offers direct access to the thermal pools, allowing you to easily alternate between sea bathing and relaxation time in the thermal waters.
A small fishing village in the southernmost part of the island, Sant’Angelo d’Ischia is one of the most picturesque corners of the island and enjoys a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Some compare it to Capri; Sant’Angelo is characterised by pastel-coloured cottages perched on a tufa hillside, narrow alleyways with boutiques and shops, and restaurants serving local cuisine.
The town is entirely pedestrianised, featuring a small tourist harbour and numerous cafés and bars—the ideal spots to enjoy an aperitivo while watching the sunset. Sant’Angelo is also home to one of the island’s most renowned beaches, Cava Grado, which hosts two famous thermal gardens, Tropical and Aphrodite.
Situated on a promontory overlooking the sea, near the locality of Forio d’Ischia, the wonderful Church of Soccorso is another undisputed symbol of the island. The distinctive natural setting in which it is situated and the panoramic terrace that offers stunning sunset views are features that captivate all visitors.
This religious building, an excellent example of local architecture, is painted white with polychrome majolica tiles, stone benches and a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Inside, various votive offerings from numerous sailors hang from the walls—tokens of gratitude left by those who survived long voyages.
Sorgeto Bay is a crescent-shaped cove surrounded by rocky cliffs that hosts a genuine free natural thermal park open year-round. The warm thermal water that rises from underground meets the seawater here, creating natural pools of varying sizes where you can bathe.
The bay’s position and shape, sheltered from the wind and sunlit for most of the day, make it possible not only to bathe by moonlight at night but, for the more adventurous, to swim in the waters even during the colder winter months.
The Sorgeto thermal springs are located in the Panza area, in the municipality of Forio, and can be reached by convenient water taxi from Sant’Angelo or by walking down over 200 steps. The location is extremely popular, so we recommend arriving at Sorgeto Bay early in the morning to be sure of finding space.
The La Mortella Gardens are located in Forio d’Ischia and were created from 1958 onwards by Lady Susana Walton, the wife of English composer Sir William Walton, with the aim of creating an environment that would inspire her husband in his compositional work. The gardens, which extend over an area of approximately 2 hectares, are situated in the locality known as Le Mortelle, a name derived from the myrtle bushes (Myrtus communis) that grew among the rocks in this area.
La Mortella is divided into two sections: the Valley, where you’ll find a lower subtropical garden designed by Russell Page, and the Hill, a terraced upper garden. Within it, you can find an extensive collection of exotic and rare plants surrounded by small lakes, watercourses and cascades. Lady Walton also had various areas created where her husband could dedicate himself to his work, including the grand open-air amphitheatre which continues to host concerts today.
At 788 metres, Mount Epomeo is the highest peak on the island of Ischia and is composed of greenish volcanic tufa. Thanks to numerous marked trails, trekking and hiking enthusiasts can reach the summit, where you can enjoy a vast and splendid panorama encompassing Naples, Vesuvius, the island of Capri and, on the clearest days, Ponza and Ventotene as well.
The most popular route is approximately 3 km long, starting from the small square in Fontana and reaching the summit of Mount Epomeo with an elevation gain of 400 metres.
You can retrace Ischia’s earliest history and the peoples who ruled it through the finds displayed at the Pithecusae Archaeological Museum in Lacco Ameno. The museum is located within Villa Arbusto, which was built in 1785 and was first purchased by Angelo Rizzoli and subsequently acquired by the municipality of Lacco Ameno, which designated it as a museum in 1978.
The museum displays artefacts found during excavations on the island in what is considered the most ancient Greek settlement in the western Mediterranean. Among the most important finds in this museum is certainly the famous Cup of Nestor, which features one of the earliest examples of Greek writing, and the Shipwreck Crater, the oldest example of vase painting found in Italy.
The excavations carried out between 1951 and 1974 brought to light the remains of a Greek kiln, a Roman temple and a road, as well as 4th-century funerary amphorae and an early Christian basilica. The site hosts an exhibition of other ancient finds, including Roman bracelets, votive offerings and a 3,300-year-old stove from Procida.
The exhibition on the ground floor instead houses more recent collections: a series of 17th-century shepherd figurines, polychrome pottery from the 18th century, religious vestments and an 18th-century statue of Santa Restituta still used today for the procession in the Gulf of San Montano.
The Angelo Rizzoli Museum is dedicated to the man who, in the 1950s, transformed the small, humble town of Lacco into a showcase for the international jet set. The rooms that once hosted Grace Kelly and Fellini are now wallpapered with paparazzi photographs and newspaper clippings evoking that golden age of parties and high society.
The villa is surrounded by splendid lemon-filled gardens, where a children’s play park has been set up, and from which you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Phlegraean Fields.
A ten-minute walk from Villa La Mortella brings you to the neo-Renaissance villa La Colombaia, the summer residence of Luchino Visconti.
The villa is now home to a foundation that promotes training activities in the arts and entertainment and undertakes cultural projects. Inside, a museum dedicated to the great filmmaker has been set up, featuring stage costumes, set pieces, sketches, photographs and screenplays.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
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