Visit Ischia

This town takes its name from two main villages that comprise it, the one located on the southern summit of Mount Epomeo, and the other halfway. This town is called with a romantic simile, Switzerland of the island of Ischia, both for its mountain posture, both for the industry of his mountain sheep. These two villages are a brotherhood, and the joint nature, and the organic civil and military administration, divided into two parishes in the ecclesiastical branch.
These two villages in ancient times were not that busy campaign by farmers and shepherds, and had only one parish, and was that one of Fontana, the oldest part of the island. In the administrative side, with their small houses accessories, the other lands of this island from the town or castle of Ischia depend. As the population grew throughout the island and in process of time Serrara Fontana formed the third part.
In 1806 these two villages bought their administrative autonomy, and the consortium was raised to joint third class.
From a historical-geographical dictionary of 1802 we get that house on the island of Ischia Fontana joined withSerrano had a population of 700 souls.
Currently the population of the town meeting ascends, according to official statistics, to 1793 souls, but by collecting accurate information from authoritative sources, at 1869 inhabitants, who are divided into farmers, shepherds and landowners sea-settlers.
This town is bordered from the east met with the town of Forio, from noon to the sea and with the City of Testaccio, from the north with that of Casamicciola, in the west with that of Forio. Begins its territory to the Cross of the Colajacono at Ciglio, ends in the valley Bellarita in Moropano.
Today it has become common in the sixth grade, belonging to mandment of Ischia.

In the western side of the island of Ischia, the country washed by the sea for the whole extension, surrounded by verdant plains, backed by the mountain that sits on the hills in the most luxurious and comfortable posture, flanked by two current volcanic, one to the north, another south; that country is called Forio.
It is bordered to the east and noon with the City of Fontana-Serrara; to the south with that of Ischia, to the north with that of Forio, on the west with the sea.
The main roads that put this town in communication, capture other neighbors are three: to the north and ends at Cavallara Lacco-Ameno, that of Fango to the north-east coast for half connects this town with Ischia, in the South that leads to the village of Panza, and continues to Serrara Fontana for steep climbs.
Beautiful, pleasant, are its breasts, its headlands, its bridges, and that we shall describe below these details.
Forio was called by Jasolino Fiorio saying: “Forino said by others, but by us Fiorio because after the destruction of many houses and castles that flourished, being the eldest of others throughout the island, well-equipped with twelve towers, with artillery , and with many people to fly, beautiful site of abundant wine, and excellent fruit”.
And De Siano also added the name of Forio etc. in Italian fertile: the name given to this place, because unlike other places of the island’s most fertile land to be the largest in the plan with the low hills, and therefore most suitable for growing and more fertile. Of this there can be no doubt, being also that until the present (1798), for this reason that the Earth looks like a city that contains the largest population of the island, multiplying the most fertile places in the competition of the inhabitants, the population is well all located together on a spit of land etc.
Forio includes: 1 main center of the country. 2 The village of Monterone. 3 The scattered houses. 4 The village of Panza.
In this arrangement the City, towns, countryside, the villas, the culminating point, from which begins the demarcation of Forio, Fasano called the east, below the summit Epomeo: the right side and northern Europe, the lowest point, the Cala di S. Montano, from which the proceeding is prolonged westward currents Zaro, or Caruso. From the mid-day the demarcation point from the boundary is called the Cross of Cola Jacono old farmer of Socchivo.
The first Greek colonies dwelt still Forio, in the opinion of De Siano.
These first Greek colonies, which settled on this plain, were the Doric, ie Siracuse, remained on the island under the Pacio Nimpsio Pacillo and Maio’s orders, after the defeat of lands.
Such an opinion was recorded by d’Aloysio, and repeated by the Anonymous Ultramontane.
From the foot of the hill to the valley of St. Emperor Montano, was a fertile and smiling plain: the Syracusans allured to that site, and while the enchanting beach subjected to the Emperor, erected their temple to Venus -whose white marble statue was discovered in 1792, and brutally destroyed.
From the opposite side, on top of the promontory of Vico, there was the wall of the fortress, which was submitted to the city to look west and dominate the existing cemetery in the subject valley, near the sea, to the entrance of town on highway as was the custom among Greeks, Romans, and hence one to establish their cemeteries.
The eruption of Caccavelli drove this colony, the same buried the city under the lava of Zaro and Marecoco.
The elements calmed down and ran the Partenopei, then the Romans.
The monuments discovered, the buried jars, the voices interfered in Latin Doric dialect, proved that the Neapolitan and Roman lived there.
Came the Sicilians, at the Julius Caesar time, bragging rights of ownership of the land occupied by the Neapolitans, having expelled Syracuse, they demanded the release. Julius Caesar had a right to their claim, and then the Sicilians occupied this country.
In this regard we report the d’ Aloysio’s words. Forio was originated by the Sicilians, who found a climate suited to their genius, they stopped there and multiplied, and called it Forio.
They broke the barbarians, these plains were devastated, the survivors took refuge in the mountains and hills.
With the Normans and Swabians remained with the impoverished island, and so the Syrians built churches, and multiplied, providing proof of indomitable perseverance and value.
Succeeded the Angevin dynasty, Sicily was touched at Vespers, and the children of Sicilians also rioted, calling for these plains: the French out.
The fertility of the place liked the new usurpers, and while the Charles II solders devastated these fields, the old settlers did not move away, with the eruption of 1301.
But back in 1305 and meeting votes, not to have been damaged in the property and in person, by the eruption of the cremation fire, they built churches and chapels in S. Antonio Abate.
The Spaniards occurring with the Aragons and Catalans, Sicilians, ran to plow or to occupy these vineyards and Lopez, the Galiz, the Jonchez planted here and with them ran to Corsica, and then others from Malta, which also took the House from the native land, and were called the Maltese, others from Matera in Apulia, took the surname of Mattera, and Matarese, others from Sorrento, Amalfi, Tuscany, are the Sorrentino, the Amalfitano, the Florentine, they give with their family name the first said, today House Jonchese, House Corso, House Calise, House Mattera, House Maltese, House Fiorentino..

The town of Lacco is located at the northern part of the island, bordered to the west with the towns of Forio, Casamicciola to the east, with the same two cities at noon, and with the sea to the north.
Looking this city, from Monte Vico, presents to the eye in the form of an amphitheater: by one hand, it is swallowed by the waves, another side there are the hills of Castanito, Pannella, of Mezzania, and the promontory of the bush Monte Vico, and the more modest of Ebdomade and the lido, which close a semi-circle occupied by the extensive plains planted vineyards and charming villas. It ends on one side at the foot hills shaded by clumps of little selveti and the other side is formed by the extensive sea washed by the waves along its northern extension. The districts Pannella, Mezzania, Monte-House, House-Let, Mud, Cesa, Capital, and others, are included within this small town.
The etymology of the name Lacco, De Siano derives from the Greek pencil in Italian stone, or stony place, and, in fact, he argues: throughout Lacco was - perhaps at his time, or before - full of large masses of white tuff, which although they are broken, in large quantities for use in the factory, there are still especially a fungus that is the figure of the great well located in the sea not far from the shore, which serves mooring and shelter for ships. The Genoese in 1798 called this rock Lacco the very expressive name for the name of the place.
In 1863 they were invited all municipalities in southern Italy to bring those changes, which they believed appropriate, to the ancient names of their cities. The municipality of Forio, believed to add to this, the Royal Decree was authorized the qualifier Ameno and was authorized to call Lacco-Ameno, a name officially preserved.
Considering the veil that covers fables, myths, and traditions of thousands of centuries, and wanting to scrutinize the monuments on the territory of Lacco presents us, we must assume that the first Phoenician colonies to the latest British invasion occurred in 1809, most part, even if you do not want to tell all, they had to arrive to the comfortable and spacious beach of Lacco, and because its largest navy, and because of more secure anchoring.
In fact, legend has it that the Trojan fleet will be repaired in the womb of Marine Lacco, and that colony has occupied this plain with its leader, with the promontory of Monte Vico.
The physicist Dr. Francesco De Siano, native of Lacco, in his operetta, argues that the Greek monuments excavated at that site, the headquarters of the Greek colonies was Lacco, situated in the middle of the island.
But beyond the legends and opinions of local writers, the statue of Hercules, etc. there are many stories to indicate that the first colonies that have occupied this site. The Greeks of the early expeditions, establishing their main headquarters in the valley of Negroponte and other points are stretched along the coast, from Punta Perrone in Monte Vico as it is also the opinion of Jasolino and Oltramontano. The Syracuse who stared at their main center in the Land of Forio lasted until the marina of San Montano Monte Vico and on top of which, built a military bulwark that the eruption of Caccavelli could not destroy.
The famous writer Capaccio argued that the inscriptions on the sepulchral urns, and the names of those extinct, are too truthful testimony, the Romans living in this pleasant beach.
But if all these ancient colonies have landed, have concentrated in our coverage of the territory, we have arguments that have never established a permanent dwelling, perhaps because the place is too exposed, just repaired, or not suitable to their industries or professions, or perhaps because, having planted their cemetery, their burial, in the most romantic and melancholy plains, and on the hill of Monte Vico, and for veneration for the dead, is a sentiment of religion or superstition, they stopped their main headquarters in Forio, but for a place of worship. This place was used and held in awe, the seat of their gods and Penates for the district, was inhabited by the souls of the deceased and from the invisible spirit of their patron, for fear of seeing it was so polluted by new adventurers, was allocated a detachment stationed on Mount Vico, where they were discovered scrap vessels and tiles used in the usual roofs of houses, as well as caves plastered like a tank of oil, or rather of wine and jars.
However if scrap of old factories have been found on Mount Vico, even if there have been houses on the hills of Fundera, House Monti and boundaries, there are signs of old factories along the plain of the sea. So the last part had to be lived. When the pirates disappeared before the fishermen and sailors, then the wealthy bourgeoisie began to build their homes in this pleasant location by the sea.
Too long we have told about these historical details, so we move on to more recent times and say, that the municipality of Ameno Lacco if the timing was very kind of the place of worship and the worship of ancient colonies, as we mentioned, in times of Christianity was regarded as the depositary of the body of a saint. In this regard, here is what he is saying the same De Siano Lacco:
One can not deny that, and still less in the beginning of the fourth century, arrived in this island from Africa to protect the body of the mistress of the same, virgin and martyr St. Restituta, who arrived in a boat in the bloodless shore of the sea of small breast S.Montano called Le Ripe, which are still there as of sand, where she was received and transported to the place, where is her church, and convent of the Carmelite Fathers together, the aquifer south of Monte di Vico already noticed ...

The name of this town is full of contrasts. Solenandro called the quarter-Mezula House. Jasolino Casanizzola. In-House Aloysio Nisola saying that the name taken by a matron named Eritrese Nisula, who because crippled, was left there by the fugitives Eritresi, and healed virtue of mercy of these waters.
De Siano called her Casamice saying that this name is composed of two voices, one Greek and one Latin, Greek word mica means House, added after the first. Mica from the Latin Sordem lavat totam, imagery, arose from the fervid genius of the writer, alluding to the miraculous virtues of these waters, that arise therein, designed to remove and wash all ailments.
We do not accept any of the sources, because we think they are all apocryphal, and implausible or fantastic.
In regard we support the view that the old name, the name of Casamicciola, was given by those who first built the first house of pleasure, or home health in this country, became uninhabited and unnamed, that indicate it to the city where land was to dwell, called the Casa-in-IUSA, or casa-in island, Casanisula, etc..
The City of Ischia lies on the northern side of the island, at the foot of the severe side Epomeo, at the base of the pear and Catreca.
The name comes from Pera because from this place the peasants carried on their shoulders the clay, and the fagots at the marina of Casamicciola.
Catreca means locus asper. These are the etymologies of these other two districts dates by Ziccardi.
Throughout the southern extension of this municipality is backed by the chain of mountains and hills. On the northern side is bathed by the sea on the east bordering municipality of Ischia, in the west with that of Lacco, at noon with Barano.
Casamicciola is divided into two main parts: one is called Upper Casamicciola, the other Lower Casamicciola.
Upper Casamicciola includes within its reach all those lands in the hills that rise above the center of town, like those of the Stone, House-Moriello, Majo, Monte-House, House-Castagna, Castanita, Spur-house, etc…
Lower Casamicciola includes and S. Pasquale citizens, Perrone, the petroni, Piazza Bagni and Marina.
This city though was extended by mountainous terrain and hills, although it was provided and intersected by the most beautiful, comfortable and spacious streets of the island, nicely shaded by plane trees and acacias, is divided into many neighborhoods, in different buildings, some of which are planted on an enchanting hills, surrounded by vines and shrubs, while others built in romantic valleys, watered by the steamy mineral water, and shaded by coppice forests, and other points of focus in their industries, which are explained in a dignified disorder, on a tongue of land which forms the meandering beach lido.
Such a romantic and varied position of the City and the building so divided, is isolated, the town of Ischia resorts, recreational boating, the campaign for the stranger, and for the sick.
This country is made more beautiful because it presents in its different districts, varied scenes.