Ischia

Ischia island history

Ceramics found on the island during archaeological excavations indicate that the acropolis in the area of Mount Monte Vico (Lacco Ameno) was inhabited back in the Bronze Age. Greeks from Eretria and Chalkis came to the island in the 8th century BC to establish a market and trade with Etruscans on the mainland. Greeks, Etruscans and Phoenicians lived on Ischia at that time, and in 700 BC the island was inhabited by 5 to 10 thousand people, according to various sources!

The island was a lucrative trading post and an important watchtower in the Mediterranean Sea, so it was captured frequently and enthusiastically: the Neapolitans did it in 470 BC (the Aragon Castle was built at the same time), the Romans in 322 BC, in 6 AD. Augustus returned the island to the Neapolitans, but then, after a series of barbarian and Ostrogoths raids, Ischia was swallowed up by the Eastern Roman Empire. In the XIV-XV centuries Ischia was followed by internecine wars both on the battlefield and on the sidelines. Until the end of the XVI century the island suffered from constant pirate raids and people, afraid of slavery, practically did not leave the castle walls, but in the XVII-XVIII centuries life stabilized, and in 1729 year the island became state property.

Well, the ancient Romans saw the process of establishing life on Ischia a little differently. They believed that during the battle of the giants, Jupiter threw a huge rock at Typhon, but the goddess of Venus saved Typhon by deflecting the trajectory towards the sea. Venus herself had greened the rock and filled it with animals, but Typhon was so angry that he condemned the island to constant earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the Ischia thermal springs are nothing more than the breath of a sleeping giant capable of waking up at any moment.

Attractions of Ischia island

Aragonese Castle

In 474 BC, on a tiny piece of land near Ischia Hieron I, the tyrant Syracuse, built a defensive fortress whose walls protected its inhabitants from barbarians, vandals, arabs, normans and other peoples who wanted to profit, in faith and truth for centuries. In 1301 year, the eruption of Epomeo forced all inhabitants of a large island to move to a small island, where they took root. In 1441 year, Duke Alphonso I of Aragon fortified the walls, completed towers up to 115 meters high and built a bridge and a land tunnel, uniting the fortress with Ischia. Over the next five centuries, there were 17 churches, monasteries, seminaries, a bishopric, a military garrison and even a prison for political prisoners. Nowadays excursion to Aragon Castle costs about 12-15 euros, you can go up both on foot and by elevator, the shaft of which is cut through the thickness of the rock.

"La Mortella" Botanic Garden

In 1956, Suzanne Walton, wife of British composer William Walton, asked the then well-known landscape designer Russell Page to design a garden model that would be located in a place where lava flow used to flow, and to involve volcanic stones in the desig. The result exceeded all expectations, signor Page developed a unique concept of dividing the garden into upper and lower parts, the Hill and the Valley respectively, connected by hiking trails and stairs. The total area of the botanical garden is 2 hectares with more than 3,000 exotic species of trees and flowers, numerous fountains, ponds and brooks, three tropical greenhouses, the "Thai House" and much more. And the unique concept of division is made by the fact that different parts of the garden have different microclimate: subtropical in the Valley and hot dry on the Hill.

The garden is open to visitors from early April to early November. Working hours: 09:00 - 19:00, open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Full price 12 euros, children's ticket - from 7 to 10 euros (depending on age), children under 5 years free of charge. There are regular concerts of classical music in the garden, on such days you can buy a ticket for 20 euros and combine contemplation of flora with listening to classical works.

Villa Ravino Gardens

In Forio there is another botanical garden, but not so spacious and monumental anymore. But also quite interesting! The main pride of the garden, which has an area of 6,000 m2, is a large collection of cactuses, among which walk ponies and peacocks, and in the cages are sitting nice fluffy rabbits. Visitors will also see a variety of exotic and Mediterranean plants, flowers, ornamental waterfalls and fountains.

The full ticket price is 10 euros. For children from 6 to 12 years - 5 euros, under 5 years - free. The garden is open from March to October. Opening hours: from 09:00 to sunset on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Villa Arbusto Museum

The museum, housed in a villa from the 18th century, is famous for its rich collection of pottery and archaeological finds from the Neolithic period. But most often tourists visit the museum for the sake of Nestor's cup - an artifact from the 700s BC, made on the island of Rhodes and speckled with ancient Greek text. Firstly, it is one of the oldest inscriptions, known to historians, made by the ancient Greek alphabet. And secondly, there is a high probability that this particular cup is mentioned in Homer's "Iliad", about the truth of this claim is still being debated today. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 13:00 and then from 15:00 to 20:00, ticket price - 5 euros.

Torrione Tower

The oldest and most popular tower of Forio, one of the symbols of the island, has been the home of the City Museum since the 1950s. The ground floor hosts temporary art exhibitions, music evenings and various cultural events. The second floor is dedicated to a permanent exhibition of the work of Italian artist Giovanni Maltese. The entrance costs only 2 euros, the tower is open for visitors all year round from Tuesday to Sunday. Opening hours from 1 April to 31 October: 10:00 - 12:45 and 19:00 - 22:45, from 1 November to 31 March: 09:30 - 12:30 and 17:00 - 20:00.

Soccorso Church

The Soccorso Church that in Forio, built in the XIV century and completely renovated at the end of the XVIII century, is one of the top churches of all kinds in Italy. Once an Augustinian monastery, today it is a snow-white church encircled by a spacious terrace and decorated with precious maiolica. In the architecture of the church one can see elements of Moorish and Mediterranean styles, and in the interior there are altars and statues of saints. There is also a small museum in the church with paintings, anchors, models of sailing ships and various finds. The church is open daily, but the museum opens its doors only on weekends and holidays from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 17:30.

Volcanoes

The main natural monuments on the island are the local volcanoes: Epomeo (789 m), Trabotti (512 m) and Monte Vezzi (395 m). The last eruption on the island dates back to 1301, and now you can safely go on a hike on the slopes of volcanoes, which have comfortable hiking trails of varying difficulty. From the top of Epomeo, for example, one can enjoy a wonderful view of Casamicciola, Forio, Lacco Ameno and even see one of the symbols of the resort - the mushroom-shaped tuff rock of Fungo over the sea.

You can also visit the Sea Museum at the Clock Tower, the Archaeological Museums of the Holy Restituta and Pithecusae, the Pope's Basilica of the Madonna of Loreto and the local cathedral. And if you want to meet the sunset by the sea, we suggest you go to the church of Soccorso. The terrace of the church is considered one of the best places on the islands, where you can sometimes see a unique optical phenomenon - a green beam that appears in the sky for a few seconds at sunset.