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Where is the best place to stay in Ischia? What is the best hotel to stay in Ischia? Feast of St. Anne

Thanks to the abundance of hot mineral springs, formed as a result of volcanic activity and overlooking the sea coast, Ischia has become famous as a place of pilgrimage for tourists thirsting for beauty, youth and health.

Along with luxurious balneological resorts and thermal complexes, Ischia known for its mild subtropical climate, citrus and pine groves, golden sandy beaches, rich excursion programs and entertainment for every taste.

Ischia Porto

Ischia Porto is one of two independent districts of the island's capital. Its main attraction is a huge cargo and passenger port, built in the 19th century on the site of a volcanic crater that was extinct thousands of years ago and filled with water. Thanks to the port, life in Ischia Porto is in full swing around the clock: tourists hungry for entertainment fill the numerous local taverns, fish restaurants, bars and clubs. But still the most popular place in the daytime Ischia Porto is the famous beach, which is designated on all maps as English (Spiaggia degli Inglesi).

The main feature of Ischia Porto is a cargo and passenger port

Ischia Ponte

The second independent district of the capital city of Ischia, located just a few bus stops from Ischia Porto. However, unlike its port “brother”, Ischia Ponte It is characterized by peace and tranquility, thanks to which it has become a popular place for families with children among Italians.

The beneficial sea air mixed with the aroma of pine, citrus and chestnut groves, fishing boats moored to the shore and the majestic Aragonese Castle create an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. And from the numerous sandy beaches, gently sloping down to the sea, there is a wonderful view of the neighboring islands of Procida and Vivara, of ancient mills and fishermen's houses.

Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese)

One of the main and most visited attractions of the island is the Aragonese Castle, built in the Middle Ages on the ruins of an ancient fortress from the time of the tyrant Hieron of Syracuse (5th century BC).

The castle (or fortress) is located on a volcanic island, which is solidified magma, with a diameter of about 300 m and a height of up to 113 m. Nature itself took care that the place for the future fortress was reliably protected: the slopes of the volcanic island are steep and rocky, and in some places even completely unexpectedly break off over the abyss of the sea. A fortress wall was built along the perimeter of the island, and the shore can only be reached via a bridge built over a dam, or through a secret passage - a 400-meter tunnel, cut into the rock back in 1441.

The Aragonese castle is located on a volcanic island

In my time Aragonese Castle was a small populated town, and at a time when foreigners tried to conquer the island, the entire population of Ischia took refuge on its territory. Later it was the residence of the bishop. In addition, inside the castle territory there was a convent of the Clarissas, belonging to the Franciscan Order. An unusual cemetery has been preserved on the territory of the monastery, where instead of graves there are stone chairs. When the nuns died, they were not buried, but were seated on chairs covered with small cages.

There is also a torture chamber preserved in the Aragonese Castle, which now houses the Museum. Among its exhibits are all kinds of torture devices used during the interrogation of prisoners and prisoners of war.

When nuns died, they were not buried, but sat on chairs

For lovers of special flavor, there is a small hotel on the territory of the Castle, as well as several restaurants.

Forio

Forio, which is the largest resort town Ischia Islands, located at the foot of the 800-meter dormant volcano Epomeo. The city was once surrounded by 12 watchtowers. Some of them, which have survived to this day, are used today as observation decks and local attractions. Most notable is the 15th-century Torrione Tower, which houses an art gallery and municipal museum. In clear weather, from its height you can clearly see not only the city itself, but also a significant part of the island.

In the Middle Ages, Forio was surrounded by 12 watchtowers

Forio's historic center is well preserved, with its narrow streets, Baroque palaces and medieval churches. At all times, the beauty of this city has attracted creative people who came here for inspiration. Cinema lovers will enjoy visiting the ancient Villa Colombaia, which became a house-museum and became famous thanks to the cult Italian director Luchino Visconti. In total, more than 300 exhibits are collected here, among which the sets for his films, costumes, as well as photographs, awards and other memorabilia of Visconti are of particular interest.

Forio is located at the foot of the dormant volcano Epomeo

IN Forio wonderful sandy beaches with snow-white sand, which will appeal not only to adults, but are also perfect for families with children.

Fans of nightlife will also not be disappointed, since the city has a sufficient number of discos, nightclubs, restaurants and bars.

Volcano Epomeo (Monte Epomeo)

Although Vulcan fell asleep more than 7 centuries ago, and its last eruption was observed in 1302, seismologists insist that it can wake up at any moment, and the consequences of this will be worse than those that occurred as a result of the eruption and the Pompeian disaster. In this scenario, Ischia faces the fate of the legendary Atlantis, since the island will completely go under water.

However, fearless tourists are not afraid of such forecasts, and they boldly climb to the top Epomeo to take photographs for memory. On a clear day in good weather, the 800-meter volcano offers stunning views of the entire island, including the Aragonese castle and the silhouette of the island of Capri on the horizon.

Get to Volcano Epomeo It’s not at all difficult: you need to get to the town of Serrara Fontana, and from there, along a narrow winding path made in the rock, climb to the top on foot. The climb, however, may not be an easy task, as many experience dizziness and increased heart rate, especially in the last tens of vertical meters.

If Epomeo wakes up, the consequences could be worse than the Pompeian disaster

It is curious that enterprising Italians also built a small but profitable business here – on Vulcan: not 50 meters from the top, there is a trattoria selling pizza, pasta and espresso.

And on Epomeo you can visit the small church of St. Nicholas (XIII century). In ancient times, the Basilica played the role of a kind of observation post, from which one could notice the approach of pirates and warn the inhabitants of the island about the danger.

And, of course, the main pride of the island is the thermal springs and mud, which can rejuvenate the face, body and entire body without any medicinal procedures, and also relieve stress and fatigue.

Ischia still remembers how the star couple strolled here - Clark Gable and Elizabeth Taylor. Today it is a favorite vacation spot of Angela Merkel and other equally famous personalities.

Ischia is a small island: 7 by 9 km, slightly elongated from east to west.

In the center of the island there are mountains (more precisely, three volcanoes), with towns and villages scattered around the perimeter.

On the eastern shore is the city of Ischia Porto, smoothly flowing into Ischia Ponte, in the north - Casamicciola and, in the west - Forio (the second largest city of the island) and Panza, in the south - Sant'Angelo and Barano. There are also smaller villages.

It all depends on the purpose of your visit. If you come to Ischia specifically to improve your health, you will, of course, choose a hotel near one of the thermal parks.

The largest thermal complexes are ““, “” and “ Castiglione". If you prefer Negombo, look for a hotel in Lacco Ameno, if the Gardens of Poseidon are in Forio, and Castiglione is located between Ischia Porto and Casamicciola Terme. From Ischia Porto to Castiglione it is 2 km, some people walk without waiting for the bus.

Swimming pools in Negombo

The longest beaches on the island are Chitara And Maronti. Citara – right next to Forio. Part of the beach is occupied by the Poseidon Gardens thermal park. Maronti – more secluded; the nearest town is Barano.

There is Sorgeto Bay in Ischia, where a hot spring goes straight into the sea. So, if you don’t have extra money for a thermal park, then you can go to the “wild spring”. A path leads to Sorgeto Bay from the village of Panza. Or you can take a sea taxi from Sant'Angelo.

(By the way, this is the case when you can swim in the sea in winter. The temperature of the source is 80 degrees).

If you plan to move around the island a lot, going to Naples, Sorrento and other islands, settle in Ischia Porto.

If you are a lover of privacy, take a closer look. However, in almost every town you can find a villa located in a secluded place, with its own thermal baths and garden. But if you like to wander through souvenir shops, shops in the evenings, listen to street musicians, in general, stroll around the city in the evening, choose either Forio or.

Transport in Ischia

Buses

Bus service on the island is quite convenient.

The most popular routes are circular. One of them - CD(i.e. - circolare destra) makes a circle around the island clockwise, the other - C.S.(circolare sinistra) - counterclockwise. The first buses of these lines leave Ischia Porto at 4:20, the last - at 1 am. So you can easily have dinner overlooking a beautiful sunset on the west coast, and then head to your hotel on the other side of the island. However, sometimes you can wait for the bus for half an hour or an hour. The bus makes a full circle around the island in 1-20.

Of the popular routes, there is also line 1 (Ischia Porto - Sant'Angelo), line 2 (Ischia Porto - Poseidon Gardens thermal park), line 5 (Ischia Porto - Maronti beach).

The full schedule can be viewed in the section THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICE, Timetable EAVBUS.

So, in general, when choosing a hotel, you should not focus so much on the proximity of something, say, to settle near Maronti beach, if you can easily get to it from Ischia Porto.

A single bus ticket (singola) costs 1.20 euros, a day ticket (giornaliero) costs 3.60 euros, and a weekly ticket (settimanale) costs 12.60 euros.

Ships

Ischia has three ports: Ischia Porto, Casamicciola and Forio. We look at the sea transport schedule.

There are about 15 flights a day to Naples or Pozzuoli, often with a stop at the island of Procida (which is also recommended to see).

From Ischia to Capri there is one flight per day: at 10-35 (from Alilauro). After Capri the ship goes to Sorrento.

Flight tickets are sold on the day the ship departs. I tried to buy a ticket to Capri a day in advance, I was asked to come on the day of departure, half an hour before boarding the ship.

There are two windows at the port ticket office. On the left is the company Caremar selling tickets, on the right is Alilauro. In general, southern Italy is characterized by the presence of numerous small companies operating in various modes of transport.

Queue at the Caremar window

In travel agencies on the island you can buy excursions to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

So, excursion to Capri takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and costs 33 euros. Excursion to Positano Amalfi takes place on Thursdays and Sundays and costs 40 euros.

Three-hour sessions are offered for 18 euros boat trips around the island of Ischia itself with a one-hour stop in Sant'Angelo. An excursion to Procida costs 20 euros.

When we boarded the ship in Naples, preparing to sail to Ischia, everyone was given a brochure containing useful information about the island. In particular, there were schedules of sea and land transport, a description of bus routes, and a list of all museums.

Such a brochure, I think, can be obtained from tourist offices on site. I highly recommend getting it.

Ischia for wellness: thermal baths, sea and hiking

Ischia is a healing and health island, and here there are many opportunities to heal, improve your health, and get in shape.

The main wealth of Ischia is its thermal springs. This volcanic island has 67 fumaroles, 29 underground pools and 103 thermal springs.

However, considering the island only as a balneological and thermal resort means using its potential by half.

The center of the island is mountainous. The highest point of the island is the peak of the Epomeo volcano (788 m). There are two more volcanoes: Trabotti (512 m) and Monte Vezzi (395 m). There are numerous hiking routes of varying difficulty throughout the mountains. The routes pass through picturesque areas, the views from the top are incredible. The most accessible way to climb Epomeo volcano is described

View of Forio from above

Along the mountain path

It seems to me that the optimal way to structure your day in Ischia is as follows: in the morning go on a mountain hike (or see the sights), and in the afternoon swim in the sea and/or go to a thermal park. Moreover, from 13:00 the price of a ticket to the thermal parks is 5 euros less (this is considered a half-day ticket).

Set aside the evening for a pleasant walk, attending a concert, or dinner in a beautiful place.

Ischia is called the retirement island. Indeed, I have never seen so many elderly people gathered in one place before. But you should have seen these pensioners! Thin, athletic, with backpacks and trekking poles! In the mornings, they gather at bus stops and are loaded into a friendly crowd into a bus, which takes them to the beginning of the next route. By God, sometimes it was envious. A very proper old age. Really perfect.

The group is going on a hike

I have already mentioned the information brochure that was given to everyone upon boarding the ship in Naples. In it, among other useful information, the most common walking routes were described, indicating the degree of difficulty, mileage and approximate travel time. If a person does not dare to go on the route himself, he can join a group with an instructor and go in company. The cost of organized mountain walks is around 20 euros.

Sights of Ischia

In addition to the natural attractions of Ischia, such as thermal springs and mountains, the island also has man-made ones, namely: museums, churches, villas, botanical gardens.

The main attraction of Ischia is. I highly recommend visiting it. The castle is located opposite Ischia Ponte, a 15-minute walk from the port of Ischia.

The castle was built on a separate rock not far from the shore and is a conglomerate of a wide variety of buildings. A walk along the rock, looking into all sorts of nooks and crannies, turns out to be very exciting.

The rock is connected to the “land” by a bridge, through which this part of the city of Ischia received the prefix Ponte (“bridge”).

Not far from the Ischia Cathedral there is Museum of the Sea, housed in the Clock Palace.

The second most important attraction of Ischia is. It is located between the cities of Lacco Ameno and Forio. A magnificent garden rising up the mountainside. Don't miss this delightful piece of the island.

In the garden of La Mortella

In the town of Forio itself there is a small Botanical Garden Ravino. The collection is based on numerous species of cacti. Peacocks and ponies walk around the garden, and there are rabbits in cages.

About food

Finally, I’ll say a few more words about food.

The main dish of Iskitan cuisine is the Iskitan rabbit. Rabbit meat is stewed in a clay pot with basil and parsley, lemon and wine are added. But in the heat, I didn’t want any meat at all. I mostly took something seafood. On the first day I took mussels. I was expecting a saucepan, like in . They probably brought half of the Norman portion. Normandy mussels are smaller and served with broth. Iskitinsky mussels are large, fatter and more tender in taste. I liked the Norman version with broth better; however, these were also good.

Another time I ordered anchovies. The freshest and most delicious. I then had dinner in Sant'Angelo. The entire embankment is lined with fish restaurants, there is a lot of competition, and the food is very tasty.

Freshly caught fish is laid out in front of the restaurants to choose from. They'll fry any for you.

The wines I chose were local whites. Wonderful. Local brands: Biancolella, Forastera, Rilla.

Ischia is famous for its sweets. What I didn’t want at all in the heat was sweets. They looked very attractive, but I didn’t want them at all.

Volcanic soils are known for their fertility and abundance. Plus - the Mediterranean climate and excellent ecology. Fruits, berries, and vegetables are delicious here. I really liked the local tomatoes.

Souvenirs

The main souvenir in Ischia is ceramics.

The island is overrun with shops selling ceramics. Each of these shops is a mini-museum, demonstrating the wild imagination of local potters and artists. The streets, benches, steps of stairs, and city fountains are decorated with ceramics.

They also buy local thermal cosmetics and mud as souvenirs.

Well, and, of course, they bring home local wines and limoncello made from local lemons.

Weather in Ischia at the end of May

The weather was sunny, air temperature 25-27, water temperature - about 20-22. There weren't many people swimming in the sea, but for me the water was suitable for swimming. (However, I am not an indicator; I swam in Kemer at the beginning of May and in February).

Many people specifically go to Ischia in May, since the main swimming season has not yet begun, and in Ischia you can swim in pools with thermal water instead of the sea.

Still, of course, the optimal period is September, when the sun is softer and the sea is warmer.

This concludes my story about the island. In the following articles I will tell you in detail about the thermal parks and the main attractions of Ischia.

Flights to Naples

Tours to Italy

Useful websites for preparing for your trip

We are going to the island of Ischia in mid-June. Tell me please:
1) What is the best place to stay to make it convenient to go on excursions to Capri, to the Amalfi Coast, to have the opportunity to take thermal treatments and have a good time in the evening? I wouldn't want to sit in a hotel every evening.
2) Is it worth staying for one week on the Amalfi Coast?
If so, where, so that, first of all, it is picturesque) and for one week in Ischia? Or is it better to take two weeks in Ischia and go on excursions from there? What would be more cost effective? 3) How can you spend less time on the road to attractions (Capri, Vesuvius, Sorrento, Naples)?
4) Does it make sense to go to Ischia for a week?
5) What is the weather like in Ischia at this time? What temperature? Do they swim in the sea?

Stepanida, I can only answer you regarding the island of Ischia itself (I have not been to the Amalfi Coast):
We took thermal treatments in 2 parks, the most popular in Ischia: Poseidon Gardens and Negombo. The first is located near Forio, the second in the town of Lacco Ameno (5 minutes by bus from Casamicciola + 10 minutes on foot). We lived in Casamicciola, the journey to the Poseidon Gardens took 20 minutes. by bus; to Ischia Porto, from where they take all excursions and where the main entertainment venues are - 7 min. , also by bus. In our town there was also a port, from where you can go to Capri and Naples on your own.
In general, the road around the island by bus is 33 km, so it doesn’t really matter where you stop, because... all distances are relatively short. The main hotels are located in Ischia Porto (this is the main town on the island, the noisiest, the main port, but also most of the restaurants, clubs and shops there), in Forio (near the Poseidon Gardens), in Casamicciola (we really liked it there, and before everything close), in San Angelo (this is such a beautiful place, there on a sightseeing tour of the island they allow you to walk for an hour to enjoy it)). And in a hotel in the evening, in my opinion, it’s a sin to sit in Ischia, and the distances where you stay are not the same, so that they keep you from walking around different towns on the island.))
We were on a week-long tour in Ischia, we didn’t have time to visit Capri, but we wanted to. I don’t know, 10-12 days would be ideal for me, I just don’t really like more than that in any place, I want to go home)).
About the weather, I’ll say that in early May it was warm, +20-25 degrees, the sea was cool (but we swam)). I think that in mid-June everything will be ok, and it won’t be too hot.
If you have any questions, please))

Nadezhda, thanks for the detailed answer. :) If it's not a secret, why didn't you manage to go to Capri? Did your procedure schedule get in the way? I am also in doubt: to go for a week or two. One week, it seems, is not enough to go to Capri, get an idea of the Amalfi Coast and improve your health at the thermal springs. And two weeks seems to be too much. (I heard that Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius do not make much of an impression.) It’s a pity that all programs are multiples of 7 days. As I understand it, the reason is the charter schedule. I was interested in other flights to Naples: if you fly through Munich, you will have to spend 6.5 hours in the air + connections. Also not the best option... I would like to know your opinion on this matter. Does it make sense to fly via Rome and take Eurostar to Naples? This option allows you to stay in Ischia for 10-12 days.
Nadezhda, please also tell me where you would stay now? I would be grateful if you recommend any hotel. :) Maybe you noticed something? :)) I would like the territory to be a park, to have a good panoramic view from the territory, to have a thermal center in the hotel or nearby (set to the “anti-stress” or “beauty” programs), so that the hotel has a zest.
Which thermal park did you like best? Does it make sense to visit everything or is it better to stop at one thing?

In general, I will try to answer in order))
We didn't go to Capri because... There wasn’t enough time to climb around the island of Ischia itself, and I didn’t want to interfere with a bunch of impressions. We were in Naples, and Vesuvius, and Pompeii. I didn’t like Naples, it’s kind of dirty, noisy, a port city, in general. It has its own flavor, but not for me)). Vesuvius made an impression, we were at the very top and looked into the crater (the walk to the top takes about 30 minutes, 270 meters). Here in Pompeii, under the hot sun, we were tired of walking in a group for 2 hours. But still, we’ve been and seen!
If you set a goal to visit thermal springs and procedures, then doctors advise at least 2 weeks - this is the minimum course. For us, the thermal baths were a pleasant addition and an opportunity to swim even in a cold sea, and if we were going to improve our health, then it would be for 14 days, no less.
About the road. When we took the tour, the dates were a little inconvenient - we were leaving on Saturday, and we thought of flying to Rome (and staying there for a day), and then on a high-speed train (apparently this is Eurostar? I just don’t know)) 1 hour 40 minutes . to Naples, but Aeroflot told us an unacceptable price for tickets, and we flew Eurofly to Naples on Saturday, what can we do)). Via Rome, I think, is not tiring, it’s just a matter of price.
The hotel is very popular among Russians - "Triton" in Forio, our friends stayed there, and we stopped by. Pleasant, a big advantage - right on the shore, and its own thermal center is not bad, the territory is quite large, green. Our hotel Gran Paradiso (Sea View rooms) had a panoramic view, simply excellent, we had fun on the balcony!! But a very small pool, and a thermal center)). Oh, here's another one. I just don’t remember the name of the hotel, but it is located right above Negombo Park, they even have beaches at the same time, and the entrance is nearby. It is located right on the top of the mountain, a large park, very beautiful from the outside. I think the tour operator will advise you better about it)).
Of the thermal parks, I liked the Poseidon Gardens more - it is more peaceful, there are many swimming pools, there is a thermal sauna right in the rock, it is very beautiful. But our friends liked Negombo more - it is greener there, and the bay is very picturesque. In short, to each his own. And I would only go to Poseidon, but we climbed to Negombo out of curiosity.
It seems like I didn’t miss anything?))) Cheers, as they say))

Nadezhda, thank you very much! :) You are a godsend for me! :)
I read about Triton that it is popular among the Germans. What about the view? Are there any restaurants nearby?
There are still questions about nutrition. What type of food is better to take: breakfasts or half board? I looked at some local hotel websites and noticed that in some places you can get either lunch or dinner as half board. What's the best way to book? Is taking a siesta during the day at local establishments annoying?
Nadezhda, maybe you were wondering how thermal water differs in composition in hotels? Is this difference fundamental? The agencies, unfortunately, cannot answer which hotels specialize in what.
The agency recommends Forio. Will it be boring there in the evening? We're not fans of entertainment venues, but it's nice to have a change of scenery.
And also, curious, have you noticed the results of the thermal springs?

Regarding the flight, flying to Rome and then taking the train is not at all annoying. And if you like to look at beautiful pictures from the window, then this is for you. Alitalia also offers flights to Naples via Rome or Milan - you choose. I vacationed in Ischia with my wife in April - it was not the season, but we liked the island itself and the infrastructure. I didn't like Naples. I have never seen a dirtier city (unless Genoa is dirtier)
You will really enjoy walking around the islands. I think 10 days is enough for a complete vacation on the island + then you can stop by Rome just when the sales start.

Konstantin, thank you for your response. I really love beautiful pictures from the window. :) So I want to choose a hotel with a panoramic view, if not from the window, then at least from the terrace. If it's not a secret, what hotel did you stay in? Was it conveniently located? What type of food did you take? Did you enjoy your vacation? What did you like most personally? Have you seen the Blue Grotto on Capri? Is it included in excursions?
I ask so many questions because I want to decide how long to go.

I lived at the Giardino delle Ninfe alla Fenice hotel, our room had a view of Castello - just awesome + a huge terrace with sun loungers. Regarding excursions, I always go everywhere myself, buy a ticket and food, so I don’t know whether a visit to the Blue Grotto is included in the excursion. What I like most about this kind of holiday is the independence and the absence of “crowds” of tourists + Ischia is a very calm island, mostly adults relax here, there is little entertainment. I think 10 days on the island is enough for you

Konstantin, I looked at the photos of Giardino delle Ninfe e La Fenice. The panorama is truly wonderful. I read that the area of the territory is only 3000 sq.m. Is this a typo? Is the hotel really only occupying 30 acres? How did you book the hotel? On your own or through a tour operator? Also, how long does it take to get from Ischia Ponte to Capri? Where is the closest way to get to Capri: from the island of Ischia or from the Amalfi Coast? Unfortunately, tour operators do not have such information, and I am thinking about staying another three days in Amalfi.

Forio is located in the western part of Ischia and extends throughout almost the entire area from Lacco Ameno to the village of Ponza. Forio's area is 12 km2, which is quite good for an island with an area of just over 46.3 km2. Most of Ischia is occupied by the Epomeo volcano, an inaccessible mountain in the very center of the island. By the way, you can climb to the top of the Epomeo volcano on foot or on horseback.

Forio will appeal to everyone except the ever-hanging youth. Forio cannot boast of numerous boutiques and noisy discos. Personally, I would not call Ischia a budget holiday destination in general, but if you compare holidays in Forio and in the east of Ischia - in Ischia Porto, then Forio will seem cheaper. Less temptations; The only boutiques here are Yamamay and Intimissimi and some chain stores of Italian clothing at very affordable prices. For example, Yamamay briefs can be purchased for only 10 euros, and men's cotton shorts for 25 euros. I bought FABIO shorts in Forio and I’m very pleased.

Photo of Forio Ischia, view of the Torrione watchtower from the promenade

The photo of Forio above can say almost everything about this resort in Ischia. Photographed in the foreground is the Torrione watchtower, Forio's central landmark, built in the 15th century. Now the Torrione Tower houses the city museum, and on the top floor there is a permanent exhibition of paintings by Giovanni Maltese. The streets of Forio are not wide, the cars are small and nimble. In Ischia you can rent a car or scooter, but no one recommends it :). Forio hotels are not tall buildings, usually no more than 3 floors high. The interior decoration of hotels and hotels in Ischia, in general, is old but reliable furniture. The Russian-speaking population will call the furniture of hotels in Ischia a scoop, and they will, in principle, be right. Ischia is an island in Italy; well, who would drag a mahogany secretary here?! Loaded? Well, for example, in 2014 I lived in a three-star hotel with very good reviews, in a room for those who never got a second or third half.

Photo of furniture in a 3 star hotel in Forio

Reading reviews of five-star hotels in Ischia and Forio, I come to the conclusion that the people who wrote them were striving specifically for VIP-class furniture, and got what they got or deserved (maybe they have that kind of karma)…

Are you depressed?! Below you will find photos of Forio that I managed to find in my bins!

White Church, landmark of Forio on the island of Ischia

Photo of Forio in the center, central promenade in the evening

Photo of the volcano Epomeo and Forio in the early morning (photo taken from the ferry to Naples)

Photo of the main gastronomic treasure of Ischia, dinner for 10.80 euros

In shops in Ischia, king prawns are slightly cheaper. In the review of Ischia Porto I will try to remember exactly how much :). In general, my first visit to Ischia was quite undemocratic, since I ate exclusively in restaurants. It took a whole year to upgrade to cooking seafood delicacies right in your room: D.

Located in Forio The best beach in Ischia is Citara. Clean sand, a clean transparent sea of malachite color, shimmering in the rays of sunlight, which we all dream of in the office and at home in gloomy summers and cold winters...

Photo of Citara beach in Forio on the island of Ischia

Photo of Citara beach from the Poseidon Gardens thermal park in Forio

Life on the beach of Citara (Forio, Ischia)

Photo. Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Forio, Citara beach

Citara beach is located in the south of Forio, not in the center. The beach is equipped with everything necessary for a carefree holiday on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in Italy. Along the entire length of the beach there are restaurants and cafes, shops and kiosks with food and beach accessories. There are sun loungers for rent, but you can get the best seats before 10:00 am. They wake up early here and attack the sun loungers even at high prices, the price of one place per day is from 15 to 20 euros. Like a ten or some twenty, and now multiply by today’s exchange rate. There are also places for local and budget-conscious holidaymakers who always carry their own umbrella and towel. A set of my own huge umbrella and cotton towel cost me about 10 euros. I vacationed with it for two weeks and paid only ten euros, not 280 euros. I spent the money I saved and all the rest on shrimp!

As I mentioned in my photo review, Forio has a unique thermal park Gardens of Poseidon. The territory of the thermal park Gardens of Poseidon is a multi-level landscape with a large number of pools, some of which have thermal water. The Poseidon Gardens thermal park is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00. The cost of visiting the Poseidon Gardens is 32 euros in low season and 35 euros in August. Yes, in August, there are a lot of Italians and guests of sunny Italy, a lot of pragmatic Germans, there is a Russian-speaking population, but rarely. The park also has a discount program that allows you to save, albeit a little. If you sleep for a long time, you can come here after 13:00 and pay only 27 euros, which is called half a day.

Photo of the territory of the thermal park Gardens of Poseidon. Sun loungers are included in the price of the park ticket.

Gardens of Poseidon Ischia photo. The photo shows the multi-level layout of the Poseidon Gardens.

Thermal park Gardens of Poseidon on Ischia - the most popular attraction in Ischia. Everyone knows about it and definitely wants and ends up here. Most pools have different water temperatures; in the park you can find pools with a water temperature of about 15 degrees and hotter ones up to 40 degrees. In total, there are more than 20 swimming pools in the park, including indoor ones, which are located in the health spa center.

Photo. Thermal park Gardens of Poseidon in Ischia.

Nature of the Poseidon Gardens in Forio.

Here and there I wanted to convey in photographs the amazing views of nature in the Poseidon Gardens and played tricks with filters in my Canon. In general, the main thing is visible: fir trees, mountains, rocks, and the radiant sea - everything is available to park guests for a modest fee! 😀

I also liked the highest point of the thermal park: there is a natural sauna carved into the rock. The high temperature in the sauna is created by a hot stream of steam from the crevices. There are no naked men or women inside the sauna, so there was nothing to take pictures of, and it’s dark there, so don’t be angry...

Photo. Entrance to the thermal sauna in the rock, Poseidon Gardens, Forio, 2015.

You won't die of boredom in Forio; Personally, I like Forio much more than Ischia Porto: there are endless views of the sea, the absence of overdressed signorinas with pumped-up lips, excellent embankments (perhaps, of course, not the promenade in Nice...) and just a pleasant maritime atmosphere! And finally:

Photo. A piece of summer from Forio, Ischia, Italy.

It is known that this island attracts primarily with its thermal springs. It has long been proven that hot spring waters have a tremendous therapeutic effect on diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis, gynecological and skin diseases, including psoriasis - more details at https://1psoriaz.ru/. Therefore, people usually go to Ischia either to improve their health, or to gain new strength, or to get rid of extra pounds. But achieving your goal without first choosing the most suitable hotel will be quite difficult. Firstly, not all hotels on the island offer a full range of therapeutic services. Some hotels, for example, specialize only in certain areas of wellness services, but comprehensively. Others are more generalist and offer more relaxation than treatment. Secondly, the range of additional qualities must not be overlooked: after all, no one goes to Ischia just to get medical treatment.

There are plenty of hotels on the island. Which is quite natural: in the Gulf of Naples, Ischia is the largest of the islands, and its experience in receiving guests goes back hundreds of years. The resort's hotel complex mainly consists of hotels whose facades are topped with 3 and 4 stars. The former often offer better food than the latter, and the absence of one star is often reflected only in the range of additional services. However, in Ischia, almost all hotels offer an exceptionally healthy diet menu, so for those who come here not to trim the lines of their figure, but to relax and gain new strength, it is better to eat in local restaurants. When choosing a hotel, be guided by its territorial location. It can be located in one of the 6 regions of the island.

1. - shopping area, port and the easiest place to get to any attraction on the island. Hotels here are somewhat more expensive than in remote areas, but their range of services is the widest. Universal hotels predominate. But there are also specialized hotels with 3 or 4 stars on the facade.

2. Forio- the place where most true admirers of the island recommend staying. It is the largest city in Ischia. It is famous for its thermal hotels far beyond the resort. You just need to take into account one trend inherent in the hotel complex of this area: the closer the complex is located to the sea, the lower the quality of food it will have, the less attentive the staff will be to the guests. Of course, everywhere both criteria will be at the level of their 3 or 4 stars. But if the hotel is 7-10 minutes away from the coast, it will shock the guest, and a hotel closer will simply be comfortable and cozy, but will not leave anything special in the memories.

3. Lacco Ameno- the antipode of Forio in size and an excellent alternative to its rather expensive hotels.

4. Casamicciola- an area beloved by many for its beautiful park “Gardens of Castiglione”. It is better to stay here for those who like to live in crowded places.