Town Hall: tel. 081 3333111

Ischia has a surface area of 805 hectares and a population of 17,973 inhabitants (1991). The first part that welcomes tourists is the port, which gives the idea of a charming lake surrounded by Mediterranean-style houses. Its natural beauty is completed by the two small neighbouring hills of St. Pietro and St. Alessandro, whose greenery provide an unrivalled frame to the picture.

Life in the port is very active, and at night there is no place more lively, more gay, more frequented than the Rive Droite (Right Bank), with its hundreds of illuminated taverns, against a background of modern music. Places to see are: via Roma, the Piazzetta Croce and Corso Vittorio Colonna, with an abundance of shops one next to the other, tens of bars with gardens at the front and tables with multi-coloured umbrellas, adorned with flowers and lights.

Visitors who like ancient architecture, going into the historic centre, called Ischia Ponte, after so much greenery, finally provides some monumental surroundings. The succession of buildings have all the elements that are characteristic of Mediterranean style: the arches, the windows, the portals, the churches, the Bishop's Residence, the Cathedral and at the end of the main road on the blue sea there is the famous Aragonese Castle.

One of the main beaches of the municipality of Ischia is the Cartaromana beach, just a short way from the centre and easily reached by means of public transport.

This lido is rather picturesque, with its enchanting surrounding landscape. Further on is the fisherman's beach, so called because of its ancient traditions that today remind us of old men of the sea.

Then there are the Rocks of Sant'Anna, just under the famous Aragonese Castle, which is reflected in the sea. In summer the place is visited both during the day and night, because of the mystical attraction that the Castle has on the place.