For packing a lot of attractions into a small area, the isle of Ischia, only 47 square kilometers in size, is hard to beat. This attractive island destination should be a part of any serious culture seeker’s travel itinerary. This splendidly beautiful island, located in the Gulf of Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea, has been known since at least ancient Roman times for its therapeutic, thermal water and its pleasant, mild climate. In ancient times the naturalist Plinio and the geographer Strambone both wrote of its wonders. One of the earliest known examples of Greek writing can be found on an artifact unearthed on Ischia, known as Nestor’s Cup. The 2,700-year-old clay drinking vessel bears the cryptic inscription: “I am Nestor’s cup, good to drink from. Whoever drinks this cup empty, straightaway the desire of beautiful-crowned Aphrodite will seize”

Today Ischia is divided up into six municipalities, and the entire island is accessible to visitors by car, bus, or scooter. Ischia’s 34-kilometer coastline consists of every type of setting from small bays to volcanic lava cliffs to huge beaches. The largest beach is the Maronti, which runs for 2 kilometers on Ischia’s southern side. Cava dell’isola and Citara are two of the more popular beaches at Fioro on the island’s western side, which also features many small, rocky bays where it is easy to find privacy, while the beaches of Cartaromana and Mandra offer a spectacular view of the Castello Aragonese. These are only a sample of the beaches and coastlines waiting to be explored.

As a visitor to Ischia, the largest challenge you are likely to face is choosing which attractions to enjoy. If you are one for excursions, you can explore on your own or take tours on foot, by mountain bike, or by boat. You might also enjoy exploring the “La Mortella” botanical gardens, which are home to a brilliant collection of Mediterranean flora. If the sea draws you in, you can enjoy diving or fishing at any time. If you are seeking the experience of a celebration, there are a number of times throughout the summer months that these can be enjoyed. May 16th through 18th is a three-day long celebration in honor of St. Restituta, while June 24th is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who is the patron saint of the village of Buonopane. Then, on the 26th of July, Saint Anne’s day is celebrated with a boat procession and the setting on fire of an allegoric castle, and on August 26th Saint Alexander is honored with a 2-kilometer procession in traditional costume.

If you seek the pleasures of the senses, Ischia will not disappoint you. Its luxuriant landscapes and thermal basins have attracted participants of the European Grand Tour for centuries, including Truman Capote and W. H. Auden, to name a few. Its music will charm and delight you. The cuisine of Ischia contains many flavors common to the Mediterranean region, including tomatoes, lemons, and basil, as well as distinctive elements such as rocket, aubergines, and fish freshly caught from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Also highlighting Ischia’s cuisine is its liquers, such as Limoncello and Rucolino.

Whatever pleasures you fancy, in Ischia you can enjoy them and live the ” dolce vita” for as long as you’d like. Imagine enjoying live music every night in a different piano bar, experiencing every type of dancing, from disco to ballroom to Latin-American in your choice of clubs, then sipping cappuccino with a partner before catching a romantic walk on the beach until sunrise. This is the experience of Ischia.

Author: Elena Bernardi. Elena Bernardi is a native Italian and yoga instructor. Her company, Cultural Italy, specializes in travel to Italy’s most appealing locations.

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