In the society we live in today, it is easy to get caught up in everyday life, with all that that implies, so much so that we forget to stop and enjoy life, to appreciate even the simplest things. That’s what Ischia teaches you to do.
Ischia is a volcanic island outside of Naples, Italy. The island is known worldwide for its thermal spas and restoration centers. But what started it all? According to myth, the giant Typheus created the island after one of his violent outbursts that triggered earthquakes and the volcano that formed the island.
“The green island” consists of 6 different municipalities, Ischia Porto, Barano d’Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Forio, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana. The local population has had to put up with a lot over the years. They have suffered both earthquakes and pirate invasions. It was so difficult to live on Ischia, at a time when almost the entire population gave up and emigrated to North America.
But then, in the early 1960s, the wind turned. Suddenly, Ischia became the most popular vacation spot for the rich and famous and the island was invaded by big names like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Jacqueline Kennedy, Truman Capote and Mark Twain. Luxury hotels and thermal facilities were built and Ischia began to live on tourism.
Ischia’s wonderful natural heritage is a big part of what makes the island so special. In total there are 29 hot springs, 69 fumaroles and more than 100 spas. There are many opinions about thermal treatments. Some say you should simply consider it alternative medicine, while others strongly believe that the treatment actually helps them feel better. Something to note is that a firm believer in hot springs was Hippocrates, by many called the father of modern medicine, which can be read in his “Use of Liquids.”
Today, Ischia is still a popular destination. People come from all over the world for its hot springs, but also for its cultural and archaeological heritage. It is a place where you can find inner peace and inspiration. Truman Capote could not have said it better when he described Ischia with the words “…the white moon, washed by the murmuring sea, where the chime of vespers rises like a flock of birds”.
Read more at: Onischia.com