HISTORY: The island of Ischia was inhabited since the Neolithic, as evidenced by the discovery of various artifacts dating back to that period. In the 8th century BC, the island was colonized by the Greeks. In 474 BC, the tyrant of Syracuse, Hieron I, occupied Ischia, and in 322 BC the island was conquered by the Romans. Read More [...]
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Ischia was invaded in the 5th century AD by the Visigoths, then by the Vandals, and later by the Ostrogoths. Around 536, it was conquered by the Byzantines, and became part of the Byzantine Duchy of Naples.
In 1135, Ischia was conquered by the Normans, and near the end of the 12th century it was raided by the two maritime powers of the time, Pisa and Genoa. Subsequently, the island fell under the Angevin rule, and in 1438 it was occupied by the Aragonese. In March 1734, the island was taken by the Bourbons, and in 1799 it participated in the short-lived Republic of Naples.
GEOGRAPHY: Ischia is a volcanic island located at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, part of the Italian region of Campania. It is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands, measuring about 10 kilometers from east to west and 7 kilometers from north to south. The island has about 34 kilometers of coastline and a surface area of about 46 square kilometers. Read More [...]
Ischia is the name of the main town of the island. The other towns are Barano d'Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Forio, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana.
TRANSPORT: You can get to the island only by boat, with ferries departing from the Port of Naples, from the near Port of Pozzuoli, and also from the island of Procida. A Caremar ferry ticket from Naples (Molo Beverello) costs 12.90€ and the trip takes about one hour and 45 minutes. From Pozzuoli, a ticket is 9.80€ and the trip takes about one hour. From Procida, a ticket is 8.20€ and the trip takes about half an hour. Read More [...]
Most of the ferries arriving on Ischia stop first in the main port of the island, Ischia Porto, and then make additional stops in Casamicciola Terme and Forio. There are many buses departing from the Port of Ischia to various places on the island. A bus ticket costs 1.5€ at the ticket office, or 2.00€ if bought on board.
LANDMARKS: The most important tourist attraction of Ischia is the Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese), located on the eastern part of the island. On Ischia, you can relax on one of its many beaches, bathe in the thermal springs, known since ancient times for their therapeutic features, or take a boat trip around the island.
