10 Things To Do In Ischia Under 20euro

We’re almost halfway through 2014 but the season in Ischia is only beginning. As the tourism kicks up momentum from the boom of the Easter weekend, more and more curious travellers are arriving on our shores to explore what this beautiful island has to offer.

But what lies beyond its beautiful volcanic mountain, famous thermal springs and most popular sights? With this comprehensive list of alternative things to do in Ischia we encourage you to explore the other side of the island. Discover Ischia’s unique culture, people and history through outdoor activities, restaurants and bars and museums. We help you uncover 10 places around Ischia to eat, play, shop, celebrate and relax, as well as an attractive smattering of free things to do on the island.

Casa Museo

Image by Enzo Rando for Ischia.it: enzorando.it

Cost: Free

The Casa Museo, or "House Museum" is nestled into the side of the mountain on the main SS270 road between Serrara Fontana and Barano and is the creation of owner Salvatore Di Meglio.

The house is built into the rock and comprises a series of stone and wood worked by hand to create stairways, tunnels, rooms and other artwork created with stones, pebbles, sea shells and glass.

Entrance is free, but you may leave a tip if you wish to.

Contact: Tel. 3497198879 - Email: dimeglio69@yahoo.com | View location

Bar Calise Ischia

Image courtesy of ischianews.com
Cost: Enjoy a coffee and pastry from 3euro

If you happen to be visiting Ischia in the quieter periods, the island may seem a little desserted until you go to the Calise bar near Ischia Ponte. This bar forms the social hub of teens, business men and tourists alike. If not gathered at the bar counter getting their fix of caffeine or cornetto, or musing over the hundreds of specialty pastries and sweets, they're out on the side walk chatting alongside parked mopeds.

This is the place for people-watchers and those wanting to get a enriched insight into the life of the islanders.

Not to miss is their spectacular display over Easter of all inhouse made chocolates.

Contact: +39 081 991270 | View location

Snorkelling around the Castle

Image courtesy of Nemoischia.it
Cost: From 15euro pp

Explore Ischia from a wetter perspective. Guided snorkelling tours are a great way to experience the biodiversity that lies beneath Ischia's sea water. Discover the unique "bubbling waters", spot octopus, diversity of fish life, maybe even the odd dolphin.

Contact: Pietro @ ANS Diving - Ischia Ponte pietrosorvino@yahoo.it or
Bruno @ Nemo - Sant Angelo info@nemoischia.it 

Cartaromana Beach

Image courtesy of Parco Cartaromana
Cost: Taxi boat from Ischia Ponte around 4euro pp

This beach may be small but it definately boasts fab views of Castello Aragonese, Procida and the coast of Napoli as well as great little swimming spots around the Sant Anna rocks which peak out of the sea. The sand on this beach is always a little warmer caused by volcanic steam released deep below the surface. You can walk to this beach but it is rather hidden away and the foot path is quite steep, it is much more enjoyable to reach by boat.

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Castello Aragonese

Cost: 10euro pp

Although this may be an obvious choice to visit, not many people do venture within the walls of the Castle. But if history is what you're looking for, then here is where you'll find it. Boasting some of the most amazing panoramic views the island has to offer, from Ischia Ponte, to Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento, Capri and back around to Cartoromana. The winding path takes you throughout the castle's gardens as well as museums, chapels and the cathedral. You almost get an eerie sense of what it must have been like living in the 1800's. Plus there are two coffee shops for anyone wanting to stop for morning or afternoon tea or a light lunch.

Contact: +39 081 992 834  |  View location

Fumerole "hot sands" on Maronti

Image courtesy of Tripadvisor
Cost: Free

Just below the Aphrodite spa on the foot path over Sant Angelo to Maronti Beach is where you'll find this tiny angle of beach where the ground gives off heat energy and produces great clouds of steam and the gas bubbles in the sea at a temperature of 100 ° C. A few meters from the shore, snorkellers can see the bubbles of gas escaping the sea floor, and on the beach, rocks and red tape mark the hot spots of the beach, for your protection. Since Roman times the hot sand was used to cure the ailments of the body, as soldiers would bury their bodies into the heat of the beach sand up to their necks. Ofcourse, the heat was also found to be ideal for cooking.

If you are looking for a special evening, not to miss on a starry night with good company is a baked chicken with potatoes and hard-boiled eggs as the locals do it. Wrap it all up in alluminium foil and leave it cook in the 100 degree temps in the sand of the fumaroles, and after just over an hour everything is ready. In warmer periods, while waiting for the food to cook, bathing in the moonlight is a must, thereafter returning to the warmth of the sand to look at the stars while enjoying some local wine.

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Sundowners at San Montano

Image courtesy of sanmontano.com
Cost: From 8euro for an aperitivo

Perched up on top of a rocky outcrop between Negombo spa and the town of Lacco Ameno, San Montano hotel and spa will make you feel like a secret observer of the island. The patio and pool area of the hotel overlook the bay of Naples and mount Epomeo. Its like having a birds eye view of the ongoings of the island. At dusk, this place is truly one of the most magical places to sip on sundowners as the bay slips into shades of indigo and violet.

Contact: +39 081 994033 | View location

Visit the Cantina Crateca

Image courtesy of vinicratecaischia.it
Cost: Free to visit

This breathtaking vineyard has only been open to the public for the last two years but it is well worth the visit. Overlooking the valley of Forio from the mountain's edge, these two hectares of lush grape vines seem to drop off into the sea when you're standing amongst the them.  You can go anytime you like however Tuesdays is their special lunch day where you will get a personal tour of the vineyard, visit the sulphur rocks and enjoy a lovely lunch in their characteristic cantina while tasting their fragrant wines. Booking is essential. Contact for costs.

Contact: +39 349 3982431 | View location

Dinner at La Casereccia

Cost: Dinner including wine from 20euro pp

What better way to enjoy a good Italian meal than to have it cooked for you by a real Italian mamma: with care and passion. At La Casereccia, this family run restaurant serves up food of the freshest ingredients, in season and personally prepared for you by the mamma. Freshest ingredients and careful preparation is what this restaurant is all about which is why they have seasonal menus offering you the best of what is good and available from mother nature.The spring menu is running until mid June and is jam packed with delicious combinations such as Bucatini pasta with Pancetta and Fava beans, and a must try Goats cheese Ravioli with rabbit sauce. Plus, the pizza is talked of as the best on the island.

Contact: Giuseppe +39 333 698 5665 or  081 987756 | View location

Kayak or pedal-boat the bay of San Francesco

Cost: From 7euro pp including a sunchair and umbrella plus use of the kayaks and pedal boat

Find yourself a little spot in paradise at the La Rotonda sul Mare. From June this little self-catering resort is open to the public where they offer free use of kayaks and the pedal boat when you hire a sunchair on the wooden deck overlooking the bay of San Francesco and Forio. There is also a snack bar serving light lunches and drinks, internet and wash rooms available.

Contact: +39 335 527 0781 | View location

Whether you’re a first-time tourist or repeat visitor, the vibrant Ischia Island has plenty on offer.

Destination Wedding Ischia 101

A quaint catholic church, winding cobble stone streets, fishing boats bobbing in the bay and local passersby chattering...these are all things that come into mind when I think destination wedding on an Italian island, bellissimo!

So how does one go about arranging a destination wedding?

Well, I live on the island so technically the part where the bride has to deal with the extra stress of organising from the other side of the world is off my shoulders, however, on behalf of my guests, this is still technically a destination wedding for them.

Legalities and paperwork:

There are two ways to do this: Firstly, you could go to your local city hall, do your "I Do's", sign the papers and get it all out of the way before the wedding. As unromantic as this may sound so bluntly put, it saves alot of hassle and stress in the long run. The alternate is to do the whole shabang here in Ischia which involves alot more paperwork and preparation but at the end of the day, Ischia will always remain a part of your marriage and your memories. One thing you learn quickly in Italy is, with the right contacts...anything is possible.

The dress:

Italy is well known for their exsquisite wedding gowns by designers such as Sottero, and my ultimate favourite, Alberta Ferretti! My dream was to walk down the aisle in one of Ferretti's spring 2013 bridal collection dresses, however, destination weddings do come with their sacrifices. I opted to having mine done in South Africa as it was something special I could share with my mom. We were lucky enough to have found Gerrit Pienaar, who was able to transform a picture of a classic into a beautiful dress.

The guest list:

Family and close friends is definately the way to go. My mom always said, if you haven't seen or heard from them for over a year, then you already know. However, its never an easy task! In the same token, if the list is never ending, its a small price to pay for being fortunate enough to have so many wonderful friends (but in this instance neither the budget nor my folks were in agreement). We both have big families, unfortunately, with the exchange of the Rand to the Euro, many of my loved ones will not be able to make the trip. This is something one will have to consider before making the decision to have a destination wedding as it is often not possible to have all your friends and family present for the special occasion. 

The accommodation:

Ideally, you should try to locate accommodation that is nearby the reception to save the extra hassles of transportation after the festivities. Some might not worry about it, but personally, if my guests have made the effort to be there I'd want to ensure that they are organised. Fortunately, my fiance has hotel accommodation on the restaurant property so many of the guests have opted to stay here and at the apartments down the road. We were thinking of hiring a bus to transport the guests to the church ceremony and then back to the restaurant for the reception?

The reception: Venue, Flowers, Music

Go for a venue where the setting adds to 80% of the charm as it will save you on extra costs for decor. In Ischia, many hotels and restaurants provide wedding venues. Some places offer wedding packages which saves you from trying to coordinate all the different services providers. Look at the websites and ask the following questions:

• Do they offer all inclusive wedding packages?
• What is the best time of the year: for weather, peak & low seasons
• What choices do they offer for table sizes and shapes and linen colours
• Chairs - colour, style
• Venue capacity
• Whether there its indoor, outdoor or both 
• Bar arrangements
• Menu options
• Serving style options (i.e. plated or buffet)
• Can they quote for a cake
• What flowers are  in season and can they quote for flowers
• Can they arrange the music of your choice or recommend someone to you

The church:

Depending on your religion you may choose to marry in a Catholic church or receive a blessing performed by a follower of your religion. There are some of the most beautiful churches in Ischia, all shapes and sizes, some on the sea, others up the mountain. If the church is not for you, another option is to be married on a sail boat with Ischia Castle as your backdrop... not bad huh!

The right time:

All places have their peak and off seasons which you can play around with  if you're still juggling the budget. For instance, Ischia's low season is April - May and September - November, in which you could grab some great specials. In April and November, one is still chancing a wet and raining time which could put a damper on things, however I've been to a wedding in April and it was a lovely, sunny day. From June - August the weather is amazing: long, hot, sunny days however the prices do start to go up from June onward. August is the peak of the season which makes it very busy and very hot. The choice is all yours. 

Autumn in Ischia

Ischia is wonderfully calm in the Autumn. After a busy summer, jammed packed with visitors taking advantage of the great weather and sandy beaches, Ischia calms down completely in the autumn and winter months.

With cooler temps and sometimes very rainy weather, islanders find themselves other activities to consume their day....picking olives and making wine :) Yup, autumn in Ischia is olive and wine season!

The grapes are usually harvested for wine making in September - October and the new wine which is legal to drink after one month is called Vino Novello: a semi sweet wine with a slight fizz. October is the time of picking olives and Ischia olives make wonderful, fragrant oil. The damp weather also creates the perfect environment for picking mushrooms and there is a vast forest area on the Mnt Epomeo on which to spend the day in search of the delicious yet well disguised Porcini. Please note, it is wise to go mushroom picking with an islander who has a good knowledge of mushrooms as some varieties are even too poisonous to touch.

So after months of long, dry sunny days, islanders retire to the fire side with some good red wine, taglietelle pasta with porcini mushrooms, crusty bread and roasted chestnuts. Get your green fingers on and experience whats Ischia's earth has to offer.

Contact me for further info on an agroturismo experience in Ischia including harvesting grapes and wine making, mushroom and chestnut picking, and olive picking for jarring and pressing olive oil.

Couldn't resist....

The French film, Villa Amalia - filmed in Ischia

Over 20 movies filmed in Ischia

Producers of internationally successful movies have long been coming to film on the island of Ischia, most frequently in the ancient borgo of Ischia Ponte, where for instance Anthony Minghella shot most of “The Talented Mr Ripley”. In recent years, Ischia's scenery has proven to be a popular backdrop for TV shows such as Italy's version of Top Gear and a few of Bud Spencer's latest productions.

During the last week of June each year Ischia Ponte is the setting for the Ischia Film Festival, an international event dedicated to location cinema - www.ischiafilmfestival.it . In July the Ischia GlobalFest, a celebration of Film and Music, takes place in Lacco Ameno. www.ischiaglobal.com

  

If you're curious to take a look at some of the films which gave Ischia it's brush with fame, try Amazon.com or IBS.it:


1937 - Il Corsaro nero (It.). Amleto Palermi
1937 - Il Dottor Antonio (It.). Enrico Guazzoni
1949 - Campane a martello (It.) Luigi Zampa
1950 - Il Mulatto (It.). Francesco De Robertis
1950 - La Scogliera del peccato (It.). Roberto Bianchi Montero
1952 – The Crimson Pirate (USA). Robert Siodmak - (Burt Lancaster, Eva Bartok)
1953 - Il Mostro dell'isola (It.). Roberto Bianchi Montero
1954 - Lacrime d'amore (It.). Pino Mercanti
1956 - Suor Letizia/Il più grande amore (It.). Mario Camerini
1957 - Vacanze a Ischia (It.-Fr.-RFT). Mario Camerini
1958 - Sissi a Ischia/Scampolo. Alfred Weidenmann
1959 – Purple Noon (Plein soleil) (Fr.). René Clément - (Alain Delon)
1960 - Appuntamento a Ischia (It.). Mario Mattòli
1960 - Morgan il pirata (It.). Primo Zeglio
1962 - Diciottenni al sole (It.). Camillo Mastrocinque
1963 - Cleopatra (USA). Joseph L. Mankiewicz - (Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton)
1966 - After the Fox (It.-USA-GB). Vittorio De Sica - (Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland)1966 - Ischia operazione amore (It.). Vittorio Sala 
1972 – Avanti (USA). Billy Wilder - (Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills)
1976 - La Professoressa di scienze naturali (It.). Michele Massimo Tarantini
1977 - La Vergine, il Toro e il Capricorno (It.). Luciano Martino
1985 - Una tenera follia (It.). Ninì Grassia
1998 - Il Commissario Raimondi (TV). Paolo Costella
1999 - Cient'anne (It.). Ninì Grassia
1999 - The Talented Mr. Ripley (USA). Anthony Minghella - (Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law)
2001 - Se lo sai sono guai (It.). Michele M. Tarantin
2003 – Suddenly Paradise (It.) Leonardo Pieraccioni
2005 - Un estate al mare
2008 - Villa Amalia
2009 - I delitti del cuoco (TV)

Ischia Poetry Retreat with well-known Canadian poet, Lorna Crozier

Ischia Poetry Workshop: May 3-7th , 2012

Lorna Crozier is one of Canada's most beloved and talented poets, and a wonderful teacher. She is a recent recipient of the Order of Canada and is a recognized Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. 

THE ISCHIA WORKSHOP: A Note From Lorna
This three-day workshop in the beautiful setting of Ischia will be all about inspiration. We’ll get together, soak up the sun and let the sounds of the ocean seduce us into the music of poetry. I’ll be your guide and facilitator, but the most important part of such a workshop will be what we share with one another. Creativity spawns creativity. My goal is to help you find your stories and to propel you into writing new work, poetry that matters to you and to other people. I’ll be giving you writing prompts, some to generate in-class writing and some for you to take away and work on during the day. As well, I’ll spend a couple of hours every day discussing issues of craft, such things as diction, meter, line structure, and form. Though you’ll be working hard, we’ll make sure there’s time to walk the beach, taste the local cuisine and renew yourself. When you leave the island to return home, you will have poems in your pocket, ones you can work on over the next several weeks. I can’t wait to leave my island (Vancouver Island) for this one and to work and play with you.
Bring pen and paper, a few favourite poetry books, and your laptop, if you have one

Cost of the Workshop: $425 CAD (325 Euros)

For registration and for information about the practical side of the retreat, please contact Lynette Shultz directly at lshultz@ualberta.ca

The workshop will be taking place in and around Forio on the Colella Family premises. Accommodation is available from 55euro pp/day including a light breakfast and dinner. Please contact Giuseppe for bookings: info@larotondasulmare.com or info@hotelpoggiodelsole.com