The small island of Ischia is located at the northern end of the Bay of Naples, about 30 km off the coast. Although it has a surface area of only 44 square kilometres, the island is still very popular with tourists who make their way out in their droves during the summer months. The island is volcanic, and the main attractions are the thermal hot springs and volcanic mud, which can be used either to treat certain medical conditions, or just make you feel and look good.
Hot springs and spas
The thermal springs on Ischia range in temperature between 20 and 80 degrees and the most popular can be found around the towns of Forio, Casamicciola, Ischia Porto and Maronti (Barano). However, if you are staying on the island many hotels have their own hot pools in the grounds and most will offer treatments too. The hot waters and warm volcanic mud are supposed to be good for a range of conditions, though even if you are perfectly healthy relaxing in the island’s spas can still be a lot of fun. If you’re only on the island for the day, there a number of public spas, called terme, which offer visitors the full range of different temperature pools, saunas and massage treatments. One of the most popular is Giardini di Poseidon, which lies next to the beach at Citara.
Beaches
For a small island, Ischia still enjoys 34 kilometres of coastline and has some great beaches for visitors to enjoy. The beach at Citara, as well as being home to the popular spa, is a pleasant sandy beach with while the beach at Maronti is a long stretch of sand, lined with plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants. The beach is lined by hills and quarries, which can be explored from paths that emerge onto the beach. The English Beach or Spiaggia degli Inglesi is a more remote option, and can often be quieter, even in the summer months, while the Fumarole Beach is intriguing for visitors not used to this kind of environment, as the sand is of the dark, volcanic variety!
Aragonese Castle
The Aragonese Castle is one of the most visited monuments on the island and is on the site of an ancient fortress that was used to defend the island from mainland enemies. The modern castle still has some of the ancient parts of the building intact, though most of the construction dates from later centuries. The castle is built on a rock off the coast of Ischia, but is accessed by a stone bridge and tunnel, although there is now a lift for disabled access.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation on the Island of Ischia? Then below is a selection of Apartments on the Island of Ischia and villas on the Island of Ischia that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
