Ischia Travel Guide

Ischia is a world all its own, set apart from the chaos of Naples yet only a ferry ride away from its fascination. Ischia's thermal spas are the island's main draw card and it is a place where you can relax and read on the beach or discover the island by foot, boat or bus in a peaceful and natural environment.

Top 10 of what to see

1. Thermal Spas
2. Mount Epomeo lookout
3. Aragon Castle of Ischia Ponte
4. Maronti Beach of Barano
5. Botanical Myrtle Gardens of Forio
6. Ischia Porto's Riva Destra
7. Soccorso Church of Forio
8. Museum of Pithecusa
9. Sorgeto Bay
10. Sant'Angelo piazza

Events

July
The main event of Ischia's festival of Saint Anna is held in the strip of water between the Aragon Castle and the mainland Ischia Ponte. A parade of boats, specially prepared by each of the area's districts, recounts scenes from local history and the crowd is called on to judge the best float.

Typical Food & Drink

Coniglio all'Ischitana
Everyone on Ischia will want you to try their typical island dish, Ischian style rabbit, cooked in a tomato and wine sauce and served with bucatini pasta.

Rucolino
South Italy is renown for the Limoncello liqueur and Ischia has another after dinner variety, Rucolino. It's made from the rucola plant which the ancient Romans ate for its aphrodisiac effect.

Greek mythology on an Italian island
Legend runs that a Greek giant named Tifeo is imprisoned below Ischia and the giant's temper tantrums create the steam baths and thermal spas of the island. In fact, the area of Lacco Ameno was one of the earliest Greek colonies in the west and the clay cup known as Nestor's Cup is one of the oldest known samples of writing in the Greek alphabet. This Greek colony of Pithecusa was a key trading point and the historical artefacts from this era are kept in Lacco Ameno's town museum.

How to arrive

Ischia is an island in the Bay of Naples and must be reached by ferry or boat.
By Plane: The port is 20 minutes from Naples Capodichino Airport
By Car: Head to Naples port via the A1 freeway from Rome, the A16 from Bari or the A30 from the direction of Salerno.
Other: Four key ports ferry to Ischia. Porto di Massa in Naples and Porto di Pozzuoli nearby has the large, car carrying ferries. Porto Beverello and Mergellina are passenger only ports with faster hydrofoils. The closest train stations are all in Naples, either Napoli Centrale or the Metro lines, Piazza Garibaldi, Mergellina and Campi Flegrei.