Excursions

Approximately placed one kilometre from the centre of Casamicciola, it rises on a volcanic soil of great volcanic, morphologic and botanical interest and it extends himself on a surface of 478.396 square yards approx and is prevalently covered with holm-oaks, domestic pine and other plants of exceptional naturalistic interest. It's entirely crossed by enough comfortable avenues that go from the vast crater of "Fondo Oglio" - once a volcanic lake and nowadays covered by a thick vegetation of ilexes and a plentiful Mediterranean stain - up to the top of the Rotaro Mountain (m. 278) from where it is possible to enjoy an ample and pleasant sight of the gulf.

Dug in tufa, it is located on the highest top of the island (789 ms. on the level of the sea) attainable on foot or upon the back of a mule from a place called Fountain. From the peak of the mountain it is possible to admire the whole island and to range with one's look up to the Vesuvius, enjoying a natural sight of great suggestion.

Fortunately, the great tourist development of the last decades hasn't annulled yet the genuineness of the local people. It suffices going to the small centres untouched by the great mass of the tourists, into the farmers' houses or in the humble residences of the fishermen to have a confirmation. In their simplicity, these buildings are often rich in architectonical particulars that embellish themselves and people preserve the ancient traditions and customs. Many tourists let themselves gladly get involved in folklorist parties, often with a religious background, which animate their life in order to appreciate its meaning. Ischia is not big but it is incredibly various and you never stop discovering its plain or hidden beauties in every season. As a man stops gladly on a terrace to admire a splendid view or in a thermal park to enjoy some benefits effects of the waters and the sun, in this way, who loves the simple and genuine things, he also stops gladly in a suburb surrounded by rows of grapevines to taste a rabbit cooked with tomatoes or a glass of wine produced 100 years ago.

Only from the sea, with boats that daily complete the periplus of the island, it is possible to admire its high and rough coasts that alternate with sweets slopes that let themselves drown into the sea. A variegated and stupendous landscape, embellished by bays and inlets of notable environmental value (San Montano, Cithara, Sorgeto, Maronti, Cartaromana, Bagnitiello) dominated by the stately Epomeo Mountain : a sight that will remain engraved in the beholder's mind forever.

The history of the whole island is joined to this castle. It has represented for centuries, beside a shelter for the local populations in order to defend themselves from the piratical raids, since 1300, a cultural, political, economic and religious centre of the island. Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragoneses have followed themselves in the government of the castle and in 1509, in the period of maximum excellence, here took place the wedding of the Victoria Colonna with Ferrante d'Avalos, the heir of Inigo Di Avalos Marquis of Vasto to whom Ferdinando Di Aragon had committed the government of the island. It gave hospitality to a convent of Poor Clare since 1575 to 1810, it became "penal establishment" under the bourbon kingdom and a prison for lifer (up to 1890) with the advent the of the Italian Kingdom.

The estate, restructured at the beginning of the fifties by Angelo Rizzoli, the one who elected this mansion as his summer abode, has been acquired by the city of Lacco Ameno after his death and has become the current archaeological museum. The finds exposed have been discovered by the archaeologist Giorgio Buchner during the various excavations in the area of Monte Vico and San Montano. Among all these finds the most important is represented by the "cup of Nestore", which goes back to the 725 b.C.

It is a splendid garden placed in one of the most suggestive places of the island of Ischia . Wanted by William Walton, one of the principal contemporary musicians, and by his wife Susana, it gathers numerous kinds of rare plants. During the season it becomes a theatre for concerts of notable importance. It is opened since April to November.

It's the abode that the famous director Luchino Visconti had build in the wood of Zaro for his island stays and to contain his ashes that have been deposed, according to his wish, in the magnificent park overlooking the sea. Turned into a cultural centre, it gives hospitality to events of international prestige during the whole year.

Easy means of communication and numerous organized trips with guides will let you know Capri - the island of the worldliness - PROCIDA - the romantic island of Lamartine, observe from near the volcanic phenomenon of the SOLFATARA, located in Pozzuoli and the crater of the Vesuvius from which on August 24 th of 79 A .D. an enormous mass of incandescent magma escaped and submerged POMPEII and ERCOLANO, and experience again the period of excellence of these places by walking through the imposing ruins that have been discovered in the last century. They will let you admire the ancient Doric temple of Neptune in the ancient Greek city of PAESTUM, join the landscape beauties of the Amalfi and the Sorrento Coast, discover the innumerable treasures of the city of Naples, the ancient capital rich in history and culture.