Given the Italian island holidays, Sicily and Sardinia tend to steal the spotlight. However, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a ferry ride just an hour from Naples, Isia is a volcanic gem, and in July, although very surprising, it is much more peaceful and perfect 30c.
Known as the Italian Spa Island, Ischia boasts 103 natural thermal springs, bubbling with mineral-rich waters that have attracted health seekers and relaxation enthusiasts for centuries. The island's volcanic origins have celebrated it with more than just a dramatic landscape. These springs are said to provide healing properties for everything from skin diseases to arthritis.
Whether you're soaking in a beach spa, visiting Poseidon's historic thermal gardens, or simply caught up in a sultry natural pool carved into a hillside, Isia is a unique wellness retreat.
But the island's charm goes far beyond its rejuvenating waters.
Before tourism became a major hub, Isia was a humble farming paradise known for its wine production.
The vineyards are still kept on the hillside, so you'll find Rustin Cantinus, serving crispy white wines made from native biancholera and holes, as you look down at the ocean, sipping on local seafood.
In the late 1950s and '60s, Isia was a favorite backdrop for European filmmakers and a fascinating hideaway for stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which brought the moment to the film's spotley.
Today, the island still gives a nostalgic nod to an era with pastel towns, vintage cafes and gorgeous seaside villas.
Tourism is a major economic factor in Ischia, but it remains wonderfully pristine.
Daily beaches with no crowds, sturdy cliffs, lush gardens and dramatic castles of Aragon appearing from the ocean.
It's a place where life slows a bit, meals grow longer in the afternoon, and the best time to enjoy a full cup of local wine at the sunset.
