Ischia is one of the main islands in the Gulf of Naples, next to Capri, and is known for the wild beauty of some of its sites and for its climate and its natural hot springs which make it one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean.
Since ancient times, Ischia has been a place of enchantment. Its fertile clay soils have favoured agriculture and the island produces an abundance of oranges, olives and wine. These natural resources have supported a large population and yet Ischia has managed to retain its grandiose landscapes which are the delight of tourists flocking there for the superb weather from March to November. The port at Ischia and its busy streets is, without a doubt, one of the pleasantest spots on the island, with the famous rocky islet dominated by the fortress of Castello Artagonese. Elsewhere, you can make your way across extensive, delightful pine forests to reach areas of the coasts virtually untouched by mass tourism. The grotto of Punta della Parata, the tiny city of Forio with wines considered to be the best on the island, the fishing village of San Angelo linked by an isthmus to the rest of the island, are all unspoilt parts of the Mediterranean basking in a peaceful serenity.
These attractions, along with large numbers of hotels, have made thermal and health tourism, present here since Roman times, a veritable economic sector. There are more than a hundred spas in Ischia, most attached to top-of-the-range hotels. Yet one more reason to take a boat from the mainland to this remarkable island where sun, scenery and wonderful amenities provide a rare combination of attractions.
