Ischia

Ischia is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples, covering approximately 46 square kilometres off the coast of Campania, Italy. Unlike the glamorous reputation of neighbouring Capri, Ischia has historically attracted visitors seeking therapeutic thermal spa treatments, drawn by the island's volcanic geology, which produces mineral-rich hot springs at temperatures reaching 100°C in places. The island is divided into six municipalities: Ischia Porto, where the main ferry terminal sits within a former volcanic crater; Ischia Ponte, dominated by the Aragonese Castle; Casamicciola Terme and Lacco Ameno, the main spa resort centres; Forio, with its ruined watchtower and botanical gardens; and Serrara Fontana, the highest and most rural part. The Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese), connected to the main island by a stone causeway, is the most dramatic historical site on Ischia: a fortified rock rising 113 metres from the sea and inhabited since prehistoric times, reaching its apogee as a refuge for the island's population during pirate raids in the medieval period. Monte Epomeo, the island's volcanic peak at 789 metres, offers a rewarding hike or mule ascent for panoramic views across the Gulf of Naples. Ischia's beaches—Spiaggia dei Maronti on the south coast being the most expansive—are generally more accessible and family-friendly than those of Capri. The thermal spa parks (parchi termali) dotted across the island, including Poseidon in Forio and Negombo near Lacco Ameno, combine landscaped gardens with pools of volcanic mineral water at varying temperatures and represent a uniquely Ischian experience.