Guide to Ischia

'The largest island in the Bay of Naples, Ischia is a charming world of its own with its lush forests, white cubic villages and lashings of the Italian dolce vita.'

If you think you're on a film set on stunning Ischia, you wouldn't be far wrong. Parts of it starred in the Hollywood film 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', increasing the glamour of this island in the Bay of Naples.
Known as the 'Emerald Isle' by Italians for its lush pine and chestnut forests, parking yourself here for a holiday is likely to make the folks back home green with envy. Magically scenic and peppered with dazzling whitewashed villages draped in bougainvillea, it's a great venue for dipping into the Neapolitan Riviera without diving right in. Just hop on a regular ferry from Ischia Town to Sorrento when you want to see some sights.
When you fancy a break from that dog-eared guidebook, you'll discover sandy bays and creeks all around the island. And while you're in pampering mode, Ischia is studded with natural hot springs and mud baths – the main reason why many of its luxury hotels offer sophisticated spa treatments.
When you're peckish, Ischia has a feast waiting. Every town brims with tempting restaurants ready with succulent fresh seafood, home made pasta and bottles of chilled Epomeo wine. It's the same story shopping-wise, with lots of elegant boutiques, jewellers and delicatessens selling fine foodstuffs, especially in Ischia Town.
Night-times here are another delight, however you like them. If it's a dinner under the stars gazing at the lights of the Italian mainland, you'll be in your element. Or if you fancy a nightclub or jazz bar, you'll find it here too.

Ischia has long been a magnet for artists, writers and musicians and the island's lush countryside and relaxed pace of life provide a rich source of inspiration. Brightly coloured bougainvillea makes for the perfect contrast to the charming little whitewashed villages that dot the hillsides. So stunning is Ischia's scenery that it was used as a backdrop for parts of the film, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

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