Ischia

Ischia is the biggest island in the bay of Naples. And is considered by those in the know to be the most beautiful, (though Capri is considerably more famous). Italians flock to the island for its volcanically-driven thermal spas and as well as its beaches and food.

Ischia — historically called Pitecusae — was colonized in turn by Greeks, Syrausansa, Romans, Saracens, Turks, and Aragonese; all of whom were interested in its excellent strategic position as well as its therapeutic hot-spring waters and of course its attractive landscape. The result of all this back-and-forth can be seen in the ruins of various outposts, towers, and "tufa" rock shelters hidden all over the island.
More recently Ischia has become a frequent backdrop for Italian and American movies such as “Vacanze ad Ischia”, “Appuntamento ad Ischia”, and "The Talented Mr.Ripley". The island has sometimes been used as a cinematic stand-in for the Island of Capri.

Ischia's climate is at its most comfortable for the traveller from April to October, however the weather in Ischia is always changeable and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain — whatever the season. Summer, the main season, combines long daylight hours with lengthy evenings. Winter can be bitterly cold, with short daylight hours.

Also called the "Green Island" by locals, Ischia has a hot and dry summer and mild winters along with a pronounced fertility which is a result of having almost entirely volcanic soil. These factors allow Mediterranean plants to thrive all over the island an sub-tropical and tropical species to successfully occupy niches in the warmest areas.

On the Southern side of the island the continuous exposure to direct sunlight favors tropical and desert vegetation which is mainly represented by palms, cactus-like and agave plants with with Mediterranean trees hiding in the shade of inlets and bends. On the Northern side of the island in the shade cast by Mount Epomeo you'll find chestnut trees, as well as typical Mediterranean trees such as the holm oak, cypress, and cork trees as well as cultivated almond trees, vines, and olive trees.

Ischia mud originates from the geologic evolution of the island that many hydrovolcanic eruptions and earthquakes changed the features of the soil. On the hills and up to the Epomeo top, there are some openings into the soil, covered by spontaneous vegetation and rocky deposits: thy are deep and narrow gorges sloping down toward the sea. As it concerns waters and muds, they are all “thermal” or “hypertermal” i.e. they are at the same time hot or very hot and very rich in minerals content. In spite of their diversity, as it can be seen from the description below, all the muds have some standard features: Sodium, Chlorine, Potassium and Calcium content, Sulphur in the form of sulphates and sulphides content. According to the presence of some of these substances, different waters and mud are recommended for different treatments. There is also a document edited by the Italian Ministry of Health concerning the updates on waters and muds suitable for therapeutic treatments and illness and diseases which can be treated. According to this list, disease which can be treated by spring waters and muds are: rheumatical deseases such as arthrosis; respiratory deseases; dermatological deseases such as psoriasis, atopical dermatitis, eczema (except for exudative bladdery forms), chronic seborrhea; gynecological diseases such as pelvis tissue sclerosis; deseases of the gastroenteric apparatus such as gastroenteric or bilious dyspepsia, intestinal desorders associated with constipation.

On an excursion around Sant’Angelo you can penetrate on to the footpaths that take you onto the hilltops. One of these is a footpath that goes to the thermal springs of Cavascura and Olmitello. Leaving the square of Sant’Angelo you can reach the Fumarole beach by taxi boat. Here, leave the beach behind you and on your right walk on a footpath which is flanked by oleander trees. The first stretch is steep with a few houses on both sides, then it levels out and there are mediterranean bushes and every type of plant life, figs, capers, prickly pears, etc.On the right there is a view of the Maronti beach. Passing under a natural arch, turn right to reach the beach, here is the entrance to Cavascura. There are all types of typical restaurants and at the back of the canyon are the antique thermal springs of Cavascura. Going back, climbing the steps through the vine yards you will arrive at Cava Olmitello. Here making way through the bushes that take you back to when the world was a simple place, calm with only the croaking of frogs, you reach the antique establishment of Olmitello, sadly to say in disuse.

Capri

The small Italian island of Capri is situated 5 km from the mainland in the Bay of Naples, a celebrated beauty spot and coastal resort since the days of the Roman Republic until now. It is also part of Campania.

Capri, known in Greek mythology as the isle of the sirens, was a favoured resort of the Roman emperors. Most notoriously, the emperor Tiberius had his villa on the island, the location (supposedly) of debauched orgies. Those who displeased the emperor were flung to their deaths from the cliffs.

• the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) - The Blue Grotto is a beautiful cave at the water's edge. The entrance is small and depending on the tide there's room enough for only a small rowboat to get through. Though marked by "No Swimming" signs, we were encouraged by our Capri bus driver who brought us to the site to swim into the grotto. We did and it was spectacular. Dark at the entrance, one has to enter 20-30 yards and then turn around to view the beautiful sight of the light from the entrance flowing through the blue water. Hence the sight of the "Blue Grotto". We laughed at the sight of so many tourists loaded on large boats to see the Blue Grotto. They couldn't see anything but the cave's entrance from 50 yards away
• the Villa Jovis - Villa Jovis, the splendid residence of the Emperor Tiberius, start from Piazzetta Umberto I and turn into Via delle Botteghe, continuing straight on through Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and, finally, Via Tiberio. After visiting the villa, you could dedicate some time to other attractions in the vicinity, such as the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the Cave of Tiberius and the Lighthouse Tower.