Ischia in Italy
The island of Ischia is unlikely to be known to many. Although it is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples with 46 square kilometers, this alone does not make the Italian island more famous.
Ischia belongs to the Italian region of Campania and was created from a volcano. At 789 meters, Monte Epomeo is the highest point on the island. This mountain is, as is often wrongly assumed, not a volcano in its own right. He is just like Ischia herselfvolcanic Origin.
Today around 70,000 people live on Ischia.
Formation of the island of Ischia
Until 80,000 years ago there was a huge volcano in the area of what is now the island of Ischia. This was quite active, otherwise the island could hardly have emerged. This volcano increased its activity 80,000 years ago and produced enormous amounts of pumice stone and ash. Today we know that this amount must have been around 20 to 40 cubic kilometers and represented the largest historical volcanic eruption. This large amount of material created a cavity inside the volcano. He could no longer fill it. The subsoil was also unable to carry the stony mass over it and the volcano became unstable and finally sagged. Through further activities of the volcano, new lava mass could penetrate into the underground and finally ensured that it was lifted. So the island of Ischia grew layer by layer from the sea floor. The last eruption of the volcano was documented in 1301. There are still hot springs here today. When drilling, hot water is pumped at temperatures of almost 100 degrees.
Working and living on Ischia
The center today is Ischia Porto, which is also the economic and financial center of Ischia. Much works via the ferry traffic, which connects the island with the mainland and vice versa. Forio forms the cultural center of the island and is important for the artistic orientation of the people who live there. Because like many other islands in the area, Ischia is always a muse and source of inspiration for writers, musicians, poets and painters.
Flora and fauna of Ischia
The geckos sun themselves on the lava stones and the large and small lizards scurry through the crevices. Ischia is home to many impressively colorful butterfly species. They share the territory with numerous other insects.
It is noticeable that many cultivated plants such as vines, tomatoes, lemons, figs, pomegranates and dates thrive on Ischia. This is not only due to the fertile soil, but also to that favorable climate of the island. An extremely high-yield harvest is also possible through intensive cultivation of the region. Even the steep areas can be fully exploited for agriculture. One of the reasons why the soil is so productive is that it is only a few thousand years old.
Sights on Ischia
Despite its relatively short existence, the island already has an eventful past between different rulers. Today you can find some legacies from those times.
This is also the case with the Aragonese Castle in Ischia Ponte. It was built on a rock in the coastal region and is one of the most beautiful buildings on the island. The fortress is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden with cacti, palm trees and magnificent olive groves. Today the fortress is privately owned. But in the 12th century many conquerors came here to take and occupy the fortress. The Middle Ages were the phase in which the fortress was home to families, priests, princes and nuns in 1890. All of these people lived on the one rock. The history can be well understood during a tour.
Naples in Italy
Naples is one of the cities that are most visited by tourists in Italy. The main attractions are the historical attractions and multifaceted landscapes around Naples.
Naples is the capital of the Campania region and the third largest city of the country. In total, around 1 million people live in the city of Naples.
Landscape and location of Naples
The city is located in the north of the Gulf of Naples. Here lies a super volcano, which has a gigantic diameter of more than 30 kilometers. Naples is located between two peripheral and active volcanic areas. These are the famous Monte Somma / Vesuvius and the Campi Flegerei.
The climate in the Naples region is predominantly Mediterranean. The mild but rainy winters are replaced by hot and dry summers. Although it has to be said that the heat in summer is softened by the winds of the sea, which favors arable farming. The temperatures are also felt to be much more pleasant.
The tourism is very important for Naples. There are numerous hotels here and extensive tourist services are offered. Naples has a rich treasure trove of historical buildings such as castles, churches and palaces. Furthermore, you can also find thermal springs here, which are said to have healing effects. They were created by volcanic activity. The extremely fertile soils were also created by volcanic activity. Of course they did Volcanic eruptions also pose enormous dangers to the population. Despite these dangers, the entire region of Naples and Campania has been one of the most densely populated areas in Italy since ancient times.
The history of Naples
Naples history is very closely linked to the history of the Campania region. Turbulent times between war, destruction, conquests, looting and harmonious years of peace and reconstruction lie behind the city. Many historical buildings and the exhibitions of the numerous museums tell of this past.
It is believed that the first residents were around 750 BC. Christ settled near Naples and founded a colony there. This Greek settlement was then called Kyme. The city of Parthenope was built a few kilometers away. This was located in what is now Naples. Around 500 BC Christ, the urban area was expanded to include the “new city”. This part was also called that and translated as Neapolis in Greek. This is how the name Naples came about. In the course of its further history, the city became more and more independent and grew steadily. Already around 400 BC Christ, Naples was one of the richest and most densely populated cities in Italy. Although acts of war and looting took place here again and again, the population knew how to rebuild the city again and again and thus created a prosperous city.
Sightseeing in Naples
In today’s old town you can see the different epochs and architectural styles impressively. side by side. In 1995 UNESCO named the old town of Naples a World Heritage Site. In addition to the extremely impressive old town, you should also see the castles, churches and palaces around Naples. The Castel dell’Ovo from the 9th century are particularly recommended. This harbor castle is in the Santa Lucia district on a rock in front of it. The Castel Nuovo was built under Charles I and dates from the 13th century. This is what is known as a city castle, but it was rebuilt and restored in the 15th century. The Museum of the City of Naples was housed in the Barons’ Hall until 2006.
The fortress Castel Sant Elmo from the 14th century should not be missed either as the Palazzo Reale. This is a former palace of the viceroys from the 17th century.
