Known as “The Green Island” because of its luxuriant vegetation, Ischia attracts tourists from Italy and from the world for its wonderful sea and for its famous spas, not to mention the Neapolitans and the inhabitants of Campania that excessively crowd it every summer to spend their holidays.Life on the island is very pleasant during the period from April to October, thanks to its extraordinary mild climate, although the spas and the interesting museums also give the chance to deseasonalize the stream of tourists.
From the geologic point of view, Ischia clearly has a volcanic nature and it is well inserted in the body of the Campi Flegrei. The last eruption, after the ones that followed one upon the other during the Roman and Greek period, occurred in the early fourteenth century. Even Mount Epomeo, clearly visible from the Campania coast, is the result of volcanic rocks rise occurred over thousands of years.
Seat of a very popular emporium founded by the Greeks in the eight century, the ancient name of the island - Pithekoussai - seems to be traced back to he flourishing and well documented ceramic activity (pithekos, monkey). The Romans called it Aenaria (from aenus, bronze), with reference to the metallurgc activeness that was done in Lacco Ameno and in Carta Romana. Only in the early ninth century whereas it was mentioned as Iscla (from insula that is island).
Populated since the bronze age, the eubei colonists made of Ischia a nodal point in the Mediterranean Sea founding an emporium for trading with the Etruschi of mainland. The island so represented the premise to the real Greek colony, Cuma.
From a relative secluded position, Ischia has seen rolling under its eyes the most important events of history, from the powerful of Rome to the barbarian invasions, from the coming of Swabians and Angevins to the Durazzo and Aragonesi accession, from the pirate raids to the D’Avalos dynasty, until the Bourbons and the recent Italian history, when the island has become the international jet set sought-after destination.
Lots of places can be visited on the island, indeed: the famous Aragonese Castle and the Guevara tower in Ischia Ponte, the characteristic Fungo of Lacco Ameno, the small village and the beaches, the garden of Mortella and the Church of Soccorso in Forio, as well as the archeological museums of Pithecoussai and Santa Restituta and the museum of the sea.
Parco Botanico La Mortella
Via Francesco Calise, 39 - Forio d’Ischia
Ph. 081.986220
On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9.00/19.00
website: www.lamortella.org Tickets: € 10,00; children aged 5-7 € 6,00; children aged 8-12 € 8,00;
