A splendid sea, pristine nature (it’s no accident that it’s called the “green island” for the characteristic colour of the tuff that covers most of Mount Epomeo, but also for its pine and chestnut and citrus trees and vines) and an extraordinary wealth of hot springs. On Ischia, it’s impossible to be bored. The capital of the island is also called Ischia: there are two centres, one - Ischia Ponte - linked to the small island of the castle, which is connected by a bridge the Aragonese had built in 1438, and the other - Ischia Porto - facing the port and built by Ferdinand II in 1854 that opens a lake of volcanic origin to the sea. But the Aragonese castle is really the city’s most important monument: Alfonso V of Aragon rebuilt it and fortified its walls to defend the population against pirate incursions.

Around 1700, there were 2,000 families living on island, there was a convent, an abbey, the curia, a seminary and another 13 churches in addition to the prince’s palace and his garrison. Then, after 1750, with no more danger of pirates, the population returned to the mainland. You can access it in a comfortable elevator or through a tunnel excavated in the rock.

A staircase takes you to the top of the small island: it offers an excellent panoramic view. Mount Epomeo, which is 788 m high, is at the centre of the island and the grapes used to make the wine of the same name are grown on its slopes.

The island offers some stunning scenery. Just a few km away, Casamicciola Terme is one of the island’s main hot spring spas. As early as the beginning of the 17th century, a large spa was built there and later destroyed - as was practically the entire town - by the terrible earthquake of 28 July 1883. Just 2 km away, there is Lacco Ameno: it is famous for its beaches and for the Villa Arbusto museum that holds the famous cup of Nestor, of Greek origin. Forio, on the other hand, is the largest town on the island: at the feet of the Torrione, of the many look-out towers on the coast (which suffered centuries of Saracen invasions), it’s worth taking a stroll along the alleys between the noble palazzi, churches rich with history, the ateliers of artists and craft workshops.

And, on the Soccorso promontory, there is a small church of the same name: it has an original facade, white and decorated with precious 18th-century majolica portraying scenes of the Passion of Christ. On the hill, on the southern slope of Mount Epomeo, you will find Serrara, the most fashionable town, with its many small hamlets: it’s worth a visit to the Saracen tower of Testaccio, the windmills of Montebarano and even the cellars carved out of the tuff for aging wine. And, then, on the coast the beach of Maronti: a town with a wealth of quarries and also stacks (at some points, the beach reaches very high temperatures with steam). Finally, there is Barano d’Ischia, a site discovered by the Greeks. One of its hamlets, Buonopane, hosts the festival of the Church of San Giovanni Battista, on Easter Monday, one of the oldest traditional culture events on the island: it is the ‘ndrezzata, the characteristic Ischian popular dance, performed by 18 dancers, two musicians (clarinet and tambourine) and a “corporal”.