The Places I Love In Italy: Ischia

There are so many amazing places in Italy to visit, it is difficult to find the best memories.

This lead photo was taken on the Island of Ischia. My wife Angela suggested we visit the island which is off the coast of Napoli. It turned out to be an amazing experience, Hot mineral springs filled a swimming pool.

The green color of the water is from the high mineral content.

Castello Aragonese d’Ischia is a great place to visit.

Some great restaurants are all around the island.

This was a great light lunch of antipasti.

We took the bus to the small village of Sant’Angelo on the tiger side of the island for dinner.

Il ristorante Lo Scoglio was amazing, The name means the rock

Seafood us the specialty. It comes with some amazing views

A view of the Rock

It is well worth the quick trip from Napoli to Ischia. Take the ferry it is a good day trip of a long weekend stay. You can also visit the island of Procida. This is where “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Il Postino” were filmed.

More posts coming on my favorite places.

November 15, 2022 0

Ischia an Island Off The Coast of Naples

I came across and article on Ischia today that appeared in Forbes Magazine a while back.

I remember it for its beauty and ease of transportation via the city busses. The food was excellent and thermal baths abound in this little volcanic island. Take the ferry from Napoli and enjoy your stay.

It is just s short ferry ride from Naples to Ischia. On the way uou pass the equally enchanting island of Procida.

The island of Pricida

A 2018 article in Forbes magazine said “Ischia may be one of Italy’s best kept secrets”. It is certainly a relaxing and interesting place to visit. It is affordable with excellent restaurants. It is more casual than Capri and much less hectic. Thermal hot [springs feed pools for a relaxing warm swim. Parts of the movie “The Talented Mister Ripley” were filmed here. Great seafood abounds on this 18 square mile island

On the ferry from Napoli to Ischia. We brought our car on the ferry, is was a reasonable price.

The Castello Aragones is a medieval castle next to Ischia (one of the Phlegraean Islands), at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, Italy. The castle stands on a volcanic rocky islet that connects to the larger island of Ischia by a causeway (Ponte Aragonese).

Insalata Caprese for our lunch

Lava formations from past eruptions on this volcanic island.

Getting ready to jump.

Diving into the sea brings relief from the warm summer day.

Each day the pool is emptied and refilled from the thermal spring. The water is warm, and if filled with minerals.

We took a bus to get to Lo Scoglio, in Sant Angelo. It was s short ten minute drive to an amazing treat.

The entrance to Lo Scoglio

Frutti di Mare

My wife Angela was thrilled with all this fresh seafood.

A cruise ship passes by.

Outside dining makes for an enjoyable evening. .

Samt Angelo, Ischia. Check out the fumarole beaches with steam jets rise up through the sands. Food is cooked by burying it in the sand and letting the volcanic steam do its thing.

A salumaria or delicatessen has the real bufala mozzarella. This is best served at room temperature and best kept only on day. It is different from the fresh mozzarella which we find in American supermarkets.

More views

It is well worth the trip.Stay for a few days to enjoy the shops, dining, and the swimming. You can bring your car over on the ferry. Busses run to many of the attractions.

https://maps.apple.com/?address=Ischia,%20Naples,%20Italy&auid=12476986191221287559&ll=40.732341,13.944971&lsp=6489&q=Ischia&_ext=Ch8KBQgEEJABCgQIBRADCgQIBhADCgQIChAJCgQIVRAHEiYpt/GC441aREAxdM70t6naK0A5eWwVDs5fREBBwAZEiCvvK0BQDA%3D%3D

August 19, 2020 1

I Never Forget A Meal

I am borrowing the title of a book by Michael Tucker who also fell in love with Italy and has always loved food. Italian food and Italian meals are to be savored and enjoyed. His book was great and you can find copies on Amazon. Also recommended is “Living in a Foreign Language” also by Michael Tucker which is similar to Under the Tuscan Son, but with more humor and a bit of attitude.

We are on the island of Ischia, a small island off the coast of Napoli. We stayed in a small hotel with great views of the area and had a pleasant lunch of Prosciuto e Melone.

We also hand Insalata Capresse with fresh mozzarella di buffala

At anolther ristorante in ischia we had frutti di mare. As fresh as you can get.

While staying on Lake Carda in the town of Brenzone we had a waterfront dinner of Cacio e Pepe

Lunch at a winery in Vicenza

Below is home made pasta in Milano, I took a pasta making class.

Felt is was time to lear how to do it, I had a pasta making machine at home that my bother bought about thirty years ago.

Nothing like your own fresh pasta

Pasta alla Norma

Mixed fruit that we bought at the market in Siracusa Sicily

Below is beefsteak Florentine

You start with aged meet. This is from Il Pandemonio, Florence Italy

It comes rare to medium rate, It is a think steak, about 1.5 to 2.0 inches.

There is nothing like it.

Back in Catania, Sicily

An entire meal of antipasti

My wife Angel and I after a wonderful meal.

Il Torre Del Mangia, Siena

Piazza del Campo

Insalata Capresse

There are more to come. This Brunello from 2011 met it Demis in 2020 as we reminisced about Italy.

May 31, 2020 1

PHOTOS FROM THE SOUTH EAST COAST OF ITALY

I always love to view some of my older photos of Italy. My library has about 20,000 photos covering 1998 to 2019.

Castello Aragonese on the island of Ischia off the coast of Napoli

Ischia Island

The real taste of buffalo mozarella , shop in Ischia

Procida, between. Napoli and Ischia

Trani

La cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (cattedrale di Trani)

A trulli in Albrobello

The castle like roofs of the trulis

Many things come together and these photos bring back many wonderful memories of our travels.

February 19, 2020 1

ISCHIA, a small Island Off the Coast of Napoli, a must visit location

CASTELLO ARAGONESE

My wife Angela suggested a visit to the island of Ischia, which is a short ferry ride from Napoli. At first I did not know what to think about this. Having never heard of it I began to do some research. The online photos looked good and we have always liked islands. Getting there was an adventure for us as we have to drive from Napoli to the suburb of Pozzuli. We were bring our rental car as this is a good size Island. There were no problems and a pleasant voyage with a quick stop at the island of Procida. This is also a place Iw Ould like to visit when we return to Napoli. Spend time at the beaches and enjoy the warm waters. Find a spa with hot springs feeding it. Walk or take the bus. This island is doable. Scenes from the movie, “the Talented Mr. Ripley” were filmed in Ischia. Also “While We Were Here” with Kate Bosworth. See all the films that used ischia as a location https://www.ischiareview.com/ischia-in-the-movies.html

THE ISLAND OF PROCIDA

ISCHIA MAP IN CERAMIC TILE

Once on the Island we started to explore. At on time we were on a small dirt road when it got narrower and narrower. Eventually had to back up and work our way into town,

HOT SPRING MINERAL POOL

Ischia is know for its hot spring fed mineral pools. The springs feed the pools and they are drained out each night and left to fill overnight. At least in the case of our hotel.