Getting There
Ischia's three main harbors -- Ischia Porto (the largest), Forio, and Casamicciola -- are very well connected to the mainland, with most ferries leaving from Pozzuoli and Naples's two harbors of Mergellina Terminal Aliscafi and Stazione Marittima. Both ferry and hydrofoil (aliscafi) services are frequent in summer but slow down during the winter, when some of the hydrofoil lines are suspended because of rough seas. Medmar (tel. 081-3334411; www.medmargroup.it), Caremar (tel. 199-116655 within Italy; www.caremar.it), and SNAV (tel. 081-4285555; www.snav.it) offer regular service from Napoli, Pozzuoli, and Procida to Ischia Porto and Casamicciola. Alilauro (tel. 081-4972222; www.alilauro.it) runs hydrofoils from Naples (Mergellina and Molo Beverello) to Ischia Porto and to Forio; NLG-Navigazione Libera del Golfo (tel. 081-5520763; www.navlib.it) operates from Salerno to Ischia; Alicost (tel. 089-234892; www.lauroweb.com/alicost.htm) offers connections from Salerno, Capri, Amalfi, and Positano to Ischia Porto. Note: During high season, car access to the island is restricted and the number of car slots is limited; if you are planning to bring your car, check with the transport company and make your reservations well in advance.
Visitor Information
The AACST tourist office (tel. 081-5074231; www.infoischiaprocida.it) is at Via Sogliuzzo 72, Ischia Porto, where you'll find free maps of the island as well as information and brochures. In addition, the Proloco (tel. 081-4972293; www.prolocoischia.it) maintains an information booth at Piazza Antica Reggia 11, Ischia Porto, and organizes guided tours.
You'll find pharmacies in each of the main villages on the island, including in Ischia, at Via Alfredo De Luca 117 (tel. 081-3331275) and Via Michele Mazzella 143 (tel. 081-985089); in Lacco Ameno, at Corso Rizzoli 77 (tel. 081-900224); and in Casamicciola Terme at Piazza Marina 1 (tel. 081-994060). The hospital (tel. 081-5079111) is in Lacco Ameno, on Via Fundera, and the medical center (tel. 081-998989) is on Via Cava delle Pezze, Forio. For an ambulance, dial tel. 118. You can call the police at tel. 113 or 112. The main post office (tel. 081-992180; Mon-Sat 8am-2pm) is at Via Sogliuzzo, on the corner of Via Pontano. You will find several banks with ATMs, including a Banco di Napoli (tel. 081-993480), at Via Iasolino 26, Ischia Porto.
Special Events
In May, the island hosts Ipomea, an international exposition of rare temperate-zone plants that is held on the exclusive grounds of the Parco Termale del Negombo (tel. 081-986152; www.negombo.it).
The Festival of Sant'Anna on July 26 is celebrated with fireworks and torchlit boats by the Aragonese Castle. The festival originated from the adoration of Saint Ann, the mother of Mary, who is believed to protect pregnant women. Originally, locals would sail to the small bay of Cartaromana with candles on their bows to honor the saint. Slowly, this tradition developed into the spectacular Festa del Mare, in which a procession of boats and floats crosses the water, and the castle and harbor are illuminated. If you are in the area around this time, be sure not to miss this memorable sight.
Summer is also the height of the musical season at La Mortella (tel. 081-986220; www.lamortella.it), the seat of the William Walton Foundation. Besides the concerts, the foundation also hosts a yearly music and opera workshop. An additional musical event is the Ischia Jazz Festival (www.ischiajazz.eu or www.circuitojazz.it), which usually takes place over 5 days in the beginning of September.
The Ischia Film Festival (www.ischiafilmfestival.it) is a fast-growing event that takes place in early July each year, based in the Castello Aragonese.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
