Ischia (/ˈɪskiə/ ISK-ee-ə, Italian: ˈiskja), Latin Aenaria, country, province (province) of Campania, south Italy. It is a remote, volcanic island in Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea, renowned for its hot springs and thermal waters rich in minerals. It lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the town of Naples. It’s the most important of the Phlegrean Islands. Oblong in form, with a diameter of 21 miles (34 km) and an area of 18 square miles (47 square km), the island consists almost entirely of volcanic rock, rising to Mount Epomeo, an extinct volcano, at 2,585 feet (788 meters).
The island is very heavily populated, with 60,000 inhabitants (more than 1,300 per square km). Ischia is the name of the island’s largest Commune. The other island communi are Barano d’Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Forio, Lacco Ameno, and Fontana Serrara.
View of Ischia Island, Italy
It is believed that the date of the first eruption was around 2200 BCE; according to the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, an eruption of the 7th century BCE swept away the first Greek settlers, and another in 470 BCE placed a Syracusan garrison to flight. Several eruptions occurred during Roman times. The last on record occurred in 1301–02 when the population fled to Baia on the mainland and failed to return for four years. People from everywhere the planet come here to relax and absorb the unbelievable views of forests, gardens, vineyards, and quaint towns.
The island’s highest point, Monte Epomeo (788 m (2.585 ft)), is a volcanic horst composed of green tuff, which was submerged after its eruption and then raised. The island’s volcanism was greatly influenced by tectonism, which created a series of horsts and grabens; the resurgent doming generated at least 800 m (2600 ft) of elevation over the past 33,000 years. More recently there have been devastating earthquakes, the last in 1883 when Casamicciola’s entire town was destroyed. The Greeks knew the island as Pithecusa (which presumably meant “island of monkeys”) and the Romans as Aenaria. From the center Ages, it had been subjected to frequent attacks and invasions, usually associated with the struggles for supremacy on the mainland.
SantAngelo-Island of Ischia, Italy
Even in winter, the average temperature is 18 ° C and the hottest month is 35 ° C in August. The volcanic activity endowed the island with the ancient renowned thermal baths. Around the uplifted block several small monogenetic volcanoes formed. The volcanism created a series of pumiceous tephras, tuff rings, lava domes and lava flows during the Holocene period. The island is home to the Ischia festival, a world cinema competition celebrated in June or July, dedicated to all or any of the works that have promoted the worth of the local territory.
Also economically important are the barley, olive oil, and citrus fruit. The ancient potteries of Cumae and Puteoli (Pozzuoli) are thought to have used the clay of Ischia. Well known for its mild climate, picturesque scenery, and numerous thermal mineral springs, Ischia is highly frequented as a destination for health and holidays. The island of Ischia is home to the eponymous Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC), which produces both red and white wines while white wines make up almost 80 percent of the wine production of the island. Vineyards planted within the DOC limits of 179 hectares (440 acres) tend to be on volcanic soils with a high content of pumice, phosphorus, and potassium.
The more important towns are within the north of the island: Ischia, the executive centre and seat of a bishop, consisting of the fishing village of Ischia Ponte with a medieval castle, and Ischia Porto; Casamicciola Terme; Lacco Ameno; and Forio. There are frequent shipping services coming from Naples and Pozzuoli and a Pozzuoli car ferry. Here tourists or visitors can also visit Villa La Colombaia and Giardini La Mortella in Forio d’Ischia, the Aragonese Castle in Ischia Ponte, the Maroni beach in Barano d’Ischia, and the Cretaio volcanic promontory in Casamicciola Terme, the gorgeous Borgo Sant’Angelo in Serrara Fontana, and the splendid view of the touristic port from Lacco Armeno.
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