Ischia: visit the island in a day

The green island is certainly one of the favourite holiday destinations for Neapolitans and visitors alike, thanks both to the beauty of the sea and to its thermal waters, used since ancient times to strengthen the body and cure illnesses and infections. The whole territory is, in fact, of volcanic origin, which makes it one of the largest spa centres in Europe.

by Alessia Giannino

Ischia is the largest of the three islands of the Phlegraean Archipelago.

A short distance from Procida and the islet of Vivara, it is the third most populous Italian island after Sicily and Sardinia.

Being such a large island, it’s difficult to admire all its beauty in a single day, but what we’d like to suggest is a mini-tour, through which you can fall in love with Ischia.

Mini-tour: a day in Ischia

Anyone arriving at Ischia Port simply has to head to the famous Bar Calise, to enjoy an excellent Ischian cornetto (croissant) and a good coffee. After this little stop, you can head to the sea for a swim. If you want to stay nearby, the Spiaggia degli Inglesi (English Beach) is lovely. Not everyone knows about it, as reaching it involves a bit of a climb, but the way down to this little beach will feel less tiring once you’ve got there. The sea is always beautiful, as clear as a mirror, so much so that you can easily spot fish close to the shore.

Anyone wanting to venture a little further, on the other hand, can catch a bus from the terminus and head to the Castiglione thermal park, to Maronti or to Negombo, another spa complex that’s very popular on the island. Here you’ll find countless pools with thermal waters at different temperatures, saunas and wellness trails.

In the afternoon you can head back towards Ischia Porto, again by bus, and get off at the terminus. From here, along Via Roma, a street lined with local shops and more, you gradually reach Ischia Ponte, so named for the bridge connecting the island to the Aragonese Castle.

The construction of the Castle dates back to 474 BC, but the structure we see today is thanks to the Aragonese: it was in 1441 that Alfonso V of Aragon gave rise to what we can admire now. A visit to the castle is not to be missed, as it truly is an evocative place. Once you’ve finished, before catching the bus and the ferry back to Naples, you can try the Zingara (“Gypsy” sandwich), a typical Ischian panino created in 1977 by two young men who, sadly, never thought to patent it at the time: it consists of two slices of cafone bread filled with cured ham, mayonnaise, fior di latte cheese and tomato. The small eatery where it was born is La Virgola, and it’s still here today that you can enjoy the best zingara on the island.

At this point, for those heading back to Naples, the ferry will be ready to depart; for those with more time to dedicate to nightlife, Riva Destra is definitely a spot worth considering, as it’s extremely popular in the evenings: plenty of restaurants and lounge bars bring Ischia’s nights to life.