Part of the garden, looking the lounge cafè.

Montieri Giuliano

The most famous thing to do on the Island of Ischia is spend a day or a week or two at the thermal spas. There is one for every ailment and even the hotels have them on their grounds or in thier buildings.

Take a mini-bus tour of the island in half a day to get a good over-view and then you can go back and spend more time at the favorite spots you picked out. Or go hiking or on a geological tour to see mini volcanoes and geological phenomena.

Visit the best botanical gardens in all of Italy in Forio -above the St Francis Beach - called "La Mortella" which means 'the myrtle bush' from whence Aeneas plucks the Golden Bough and is then guided through the underground by the Sybil who is an emblem of death and rebirth.

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In Ischia, the things to do outdoors will entertain everyone from the avid outdoor enthusiast to the traveler who likes the warm breeze and fresh air. When putting together your travel itinerary, include any of the following activities:

Participate in Water Sports at Cartaromana Beach

There are more than a few beaches on the island of Ischia, so deciding which one is best for your outdoor activities can be difficult. However, you'll regret it if you miss out on the stunning views at Cartaromana Beach at Ischia Ponte. Nestled along the Sant'Anna cliffs, Cartaromana Beach is open for swimming, even in the middle of winter, because of its thermal temperature waters that naturally occur there due to the volcano. Besides swimming, you can go boating, canoeing, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing in the balmy temperature waters.

Swim and Cook at Fumarole Beach

Most of the outdoor enthusiast's time on Ischia may be spent among the dozens of beaches, but Fumarole Beach is widely considered the most popular. Not only can you swim, boat and engage in water sports, you can even join the locals who cook dinner at night along the sandy surfaces. (The word "fumarole" refers to a method of beach-cooking.) The color of the sand is darker than you may expect, due to the close volcano. Although the beach is popular, it's fairly secluded as you can only access it by beach-taxi or by walking for 30 minutes along the Sant'Angelo, which gives hikers and walking enthusiasts another reason to choose Fumarole Beach.

Hike through Villa La Mortella (Gardens of La Mortella)

Easily one of the island's most gorgeous arrays of tropical flora is the Villa La Mortella, located at a volcanic gorge. See over 3000 different species of tropical flora, imported from around the globe. Among the two large gardens is an array of water fountains, pools and miniature water falls. Visitors can also hike up a hill to see a smaller garden complete with a bamboo pavilion. This is the ideal place for both hikers and casual walkers who want some stunning scenery to accompany their walk. You may also be able to attend a jazz or classical concert in the gardens at night.

Rent a Bike

It makes sense to conquer the island by bike rather than other transport, as there is almost 50 miles of hiking and biking trails to accommodate bikes throughout the island. There are a number of bike rental shops for you to choose from. See the coastline as you peddle and coast from one tourist spot to the next.