The island of Ischia has a very ancient story.
The first evidence of residential areas on the island can be found in the area of Lacco Ameno, where around half of the eighth century BC a Greek colony put their roots.
The characteristics of the sites responded in full to the logic and requirements of a human settlement. The promontory of Monte Vico, on three sides overlooking the sea, became the acropolis. The two creeks "under Varuli" and "San Montano" worked respectively as commercial port and shelter of ships in case of attack from the earth; the plain of Santa Restituta allowed the productive activity of the small town, located also at Arbusto, Mezzavia and Mazzola and finally the valley of San Montano welcomed the necropolis. It had to be a colony of a certain size, judging by the richness of the finds. At Monte Vico there are traces of walls Greek temple blocks; remains of walls and dry kilns, ceramics, metals, various shards, indicating an intense commercial activity. Phitecusa was definitely founded by the Greeks, and specifically of Eubei, but was also frequented by different populations, as evidenced by the many materials found, which are not only of Greek workmanship. According to many scholars, the citadel of Phitecusa was a sort of free port used for trade from eastern markets, by artisans from Syria, Egypt, Apulia, Calabria.