Ischia

✩ ✩

The most important harbor of the island of Ischia Porto d' Ischia, located to the north-east and set in a natural lake in 1854 by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon. On the shores of the harbor is the "Pagoda", a lovely garden in which the French poet Alphonse de Lamartine wrote many of his poems and, most importantly, began to write his famous novel Graziella idyllic, in memory of his youthful love for the young Antonella Jacomino, daughter of fishermen from the nearby island of Procida. In front of the pagoda lies the home of the "Laboratory for Studies on Flora and Fauna Marina", a red building with a large white dome. On the same side of the harbor reflected the historic buildings of the Right Bank, which in summer nights comes alive thanks to many disco bars and restaurants open until late. Right on the main pier is the Church of Santa Maria di Portosalvo, whose facade is reminiscent of a greek temple and it was built in the same period in which the port was built. Leaving the harbor and go east are the beaches of Lido and Mandra who continue to Ischia Ponte home to the famous Aragonese Castle, built and carved an impressive trachytic rock surrounded by the sea and connected to the mainland by a pier of masonry. Its importance grew when Alfonso V of Aragon, known as the magnanimous, seized it in 1438, defeating the garrison angionia. From the island of Ischia Ponte is possible to admire the Cartaromana Bay, with its old cemetery and the church adjoining, the rocks of St. Anne, the Guevara Tower of the eleventh century (also known as the Tower of Michelangelo) and the beach. It is precisely in this area that stood part of the Roman colony of Aenaria, a town thriving industry of terracotta and metal. Continuing the circumnavigation south you will come across in the Cave of the Magician who, thanks to his legend, has become a destination for visit for those who make the tour of the island by boat. In the area you will also find one of the most beautiful bays, the Bay of San Pancrazio, a paradise for snorkelers and good food, in fact there is a small restaurant nestled Dulla pebble beach, accessible only by boat, where you can eat fresh fish in a very picturesque natural setting. Moving further south, past the tip of pretelle, you will see the bay of the Marontis with the largest beach on the island (over 1km in length). It stretches over two municipalities, Barano d'Ischia and Serrara Fontana, reaching the famous village of Sant'Angelo with its little island called "tower" and connected to the mainland by an isthmus of sand on which now pass a small bridge masonry. Sant'Angelo is a beautiful fishing village, perhaps the most beautiful of the island, accessible only by foot this contributes greatly to preserve this place, which seems to be what it once was, with the sea life that takes place on the narrow pier. Its location is extremely impressive, between two bays formed by a strip of sand. The houses are still those typical fishermen's houses that seem to fit into each other with the typical white villages of the Mediterranean, separated only by narrow streets twisted. In the square Trofa houses close circle creating the center of the bay. But at night the lives of fishermen leaving room for the clubs and bars. The port, however, it becomes the place where calling luxurious vessels, so the bay is transformed into the most glamorous and exclusive island. Exceeded Sant'Angelo and sailing west, we find the Sorgeto Bay, consisting mainly of large rounded pebbles from the sea. The feature that made ​​her famous, however, is the source of thermal water that flows from the rock directly into the sea and it heats the water that in some places exceed 90 ° C. We are already in the municipality of Forio, which includes the entire west side of the island where there are the greatest number of sandy beaches. We find first Citara, bay where there is also the Thermal Park Poseidon Gardens , then Cava island, beach "wild", completely free and frequented mainly by young people. Continuing towards the port of Forio then we find the characteristics of rock formations called the "Rocks in love". Most family is instead the beach of Chiaia, easy to reach and shallow as well protected by numerous cliffs. To follow, to the north is the beautiful bay of San Francesco, which preserves the homonymous beach. Immediately after this we find, more to the north, Punta Caruso and suggesttivi Zaro rocks from which part of a forest full of lush flora typical of the Mediterranean. At this point exactly on the north-east of the island you can admire the fantastic Bay of Saint Montano who steals the show with its exotic charm. Here we also find the Negombo Thermal Park and the luxurious Hotel Mezzatorre that thanks to this spectacular location amazes its valued guests with a breathtaking view. We are in the town of Lacco Ameno, the smallest island but with a large concentration of luxury hotels, all of the Hotel Regina Isabella. Both Lacco Ameno that the adjacent town of Casamicciola have marinas equipped with facilities to accommodate both small pleasure boats mega yachts of Russian tycoons and sheikhs who regularly frequent the island of Ischia. These two towns are connected by a beautiful coastal road fringed by palm trees and protected from the sea only by a cliff. Among Casamicciola and Porto d'Ischia no shortage of other very picturesque coves and bays from which you can admire the Gulf of Naples, in fact we are at the end of our quick trip along the coast of the island of Ischia. After Castiglione Thermal Park already we see the lighthouse of Porto d' Ischia where we started.

✩ ✩

✩ ✩