16 November 2023 , 15:32
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One of the most beautiful towns in Italy is rarely visited by tourists and offers an almost untouched taste of how the country authentically used to operate.
As blessed as the boot-shaped nation is when it comes to history and beauty, its more popular spots such as the Amalfi Coast and Venice can become a little overwhelmed with tourists at certain times of the year, leaving visitors feeling as if the true Italy is a touch out of reach.
While it takes many years if not a lifetime to truly, fully understand a place, there are worse points to start than in Ischia, a serene and idyllic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west of the country, just across from Naples about two thirds of the way down the shin.
It is one of the most densely populated islands in Italy, with around 1,300 people living there in each square km. In the summer months those numbers are swelled by tourists keen to explore its beauty. Although the number of people on Ischia give it a certain hustle and bustle, it has a totally different feel to other tourist hotspots.
The island is loved by Italians (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The majority of people who head there are Italian, with few on the international tourist trail making it that far. For those in Italy its reputation was cemented by a starring role in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, which shone a charming light on its narrow streets and rocky landscapes.
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Others come for the water. Ischia is part of the Phlegraean Fields, a massive volcanic system that has produced a number of the most important features on the island. Churning seismic forces deep beneath the crust bubble up to the surface to create thermal springs that have been attracting the holistically minded bather for millennia.
Ischia's thermal waters are believed to be beneficial for a number of physical conditions, including arthritis, skin disorders, and respiratory problems. The island is also home to thermal mud baths that are said to detoxify the body and aid the complexion.
More than 30 luxurious spa resorts, free public hot springs and parks with thermal-water swimming pools, beaches, and steam caves are spread across Ischia, making it the ideal place to banish the wintery gloom and keep the cold out. During November and December the sunshine keeps Ischia in the high teens Celsius.
If you do make it there in the off season then you'll likely be among a handful of non-Italian tourists who have. The five-star hotels and luxurious thermal springs are in contrast with the majority of the population there.
Unlikely the typically craggy coastlines of many of Italy's islands, Ischia is endowed with long, wide bays of fine white sand and crystalline water. One of the most beautiful is the Bay of Citara, which has the best sunset views on the island and a nearby hot spring spa.
The easiest way to get there is via Naples, which can be reached in under three hours from Manchester Airport for less than £60 return during the winter. Then you can take a ferry from Calata Porta di Massa port, which leave regularly and the journey takes around an hour and a half. If you're looking for a faster option, you can take a hydrofoil from Molo Beverello.