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Ischia is an island of volcanic origins in Italy's Campania region, at the northern end of the Bay of Naples. The island is easily reached by ferries and hydrofoils from Naples, and every summer Italian families flock to Ischia's beaches in their thousands.
As well as sandy beaches and blue sea, the island also boasts natural thermal springs, and the spa complexes around these are another major holiday attraction. The hot springs and the island's natural beauty make Ischia a popular destination for German tourists in particular, and many signs and notices around the island use German as a second language. Ischia covers 47 square kilometres, with around 37km of coastline. The island's resident population is 55,000 and it is divided into six comuni , or administrative areas: Ischia, Barano, Forio, Serrara Fontana, Casamicciola Terme and Lacco Ameno. The island's highest point is the summit of Monte Epomeo, which is 789m above sea level. The area attracts mainly middlemarket families and couples wanting less crowded beaches and less pretentious surroundings than Capri. The island's more distant location (and consequently more expensive ferry crossings) means it does not suffer as much as Capri from hordes of day-trippers. The accommodation here is a broad blend of small- to medium-sized hotels and converted villas, several providing their own leisure facilities with thermal treatments. Several hotels have taken advantage of the temperate climate to create extensive gardens with exotic plants, especially remarkable types of cacti. Locality: Ischia is on the edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea, guarding the west approach to the Bay of Naples, about a third of the way up the boot of Italy. (it is 6½ mls off the mainland coast. 17 mls NW of the island of Capri. 156 mls SE of Rome. 19 mls by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples and its airport). It is a mountainous but verdant island of extinct volcanoes, with a rugged coastline broken by numerous sandy bays; the highest point is just under 2,500 ft. |
