debp

Hello, my husband and I are getting ready for our upcoming trip to Ischia. We will be staying at Hotel Europa (thank you Peter) in Ischia Ponte for 11 nights (June 7th-18th). I have a few last minute questions:

Is there a weekly/two week bus pass we can get? If so, would we purchase that at the bus station near the port? I know we can take the small bus to the port station and catch any bus from there but isn't there also somewhere closer to the hotel we can get a bus that goes around the island (CD?)

Is there any kind of outdoor market, like a weekly/monthly flea market for shopping?

We are planning to go back to Negombo and also Poseidon (I got a swim cap). What can you tell me about Nitrodi? Would we need a swim cap? Is this more of a natural spring or a thermal park? We will also be going to natural springs like Sorgeto and Fumarole, just wondering if we should add Nitrodi instead of one or skip this one?

Is the Festival of Sant' Antonio celebrated in Ischia? Last year around June 14th/15th we were in Amalfi and it was a big celebration. I haven't seen anything about it in Ischia.

Thank you so much for your help.

linawood

I'm interested in the answers too. We'll be at the Hotel Europa in October. Let us know how you like it.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Hi!

There aren't very many markets here at all... sadly, the one in Ischia Porto closed some years back:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/isc_old_mkt

... to be replaced by a concrete horror that I've not visited.

The best now is in Forio (more or less daily), with a rather scrappy one held by the roadside between Piedmonte and Barano, although I'm not sure which day or days?

For sight of a few of the stalls and other shops etc, try having a look at:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/food_shop

There are also small gatherings of antiquey stalls in Lacco Ameno and Ischia Ponte every now and then... I've not seen a definite schedule, but will watch out for one!

You'll find some tips for the buses, and other such stuff, on:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/beginisc

Not working for me at present, but do also try the island's visitor magazine - bilingual English/Italian since April 2011. The Europa gets copies - but for PDFs of the present and previous editions, in more or less in reverse chronological order, use the "Download" buttons here:

http://www.ischianews.com/it/home/ar...ategory/2.html

......................

To catch the CD from the Europa, walk back to the roundabout (Piazza de' Eroi), and look for the "uphill" bus stop - near the taxis, the news stand and Via Michele Mazzella:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/139210727

That's also the stop to use when going on the number 5 bus to Maronti Beach!

The CD goes clockwise, via Cavo Grado (the stop for Sant'Angelo), Forio, Lacco Ameno and Casamicciola - taking about 100 minutes to do the circuit - so it really depends where you're heading to... for some places going into Porto first makes a lot more sense!

Saint Anthony of Padua certainly is celebrated here, with the main procession, fireworks etc usually on the 13th - weather permitting - as you'll realise, all very very handy for the hotel....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/sant_ant

Hope you'll both have a lovely time!

Peter

PS: I'll come back for the wet stuff, but need a break now...

debp

Thank you so much Peter. As always, you have all the information and such great pictures too.

I'm so glad I asked about St. Anthony. I wasn't able to find anything posted about it.

I think I remember seeing the "scrappy" market while on the bus to Negombo, it seemed to run for miles but didn't look like it was worth the time. I will be sure to check out the market in Forio while we are there. Do you know if most of the things they sell are local?

I have printed the bus information and so much more...now to go through everything.

Thank you again...can't wait to be in Ischia!

debp

Linawood - I will be sure to let you know about the hotel when we are back from Ischia.

debp

If we get a weekly bus pass do we validate it only the first time we use it or each time we get on a bus?

A_Brit_In_Ischia

At the markets... the fish will mostly be very local, although real tuna and swordfish will have travelled further (and, in winter mainly, stuff comes from fishfarms in Greece); the fruit and veg a mix of Ischian produce and that from Sicily particularly - as their season's a few weeks ahead of ours - plus lots of Campanian things as well, such as most of the tomatoes and fruit, and the huge watermelons!

Clothes etc.... almost certainly not from Ischia - some may be 'Made in Italy', although possibly only to the extent of the buttons having been sewn on here?

:::::::::::::::::::

Perhaps should have said but, as well as the island magazine, there are photos from some of the events here on:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/ischfest

Nothing else for June or October comes to mind immediately, but I'll look for a list of festas to go with this one - which covers just the peak summer months:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/126586768

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Not sure when I last saw one, but imagine the weekly bus tickets are still like the daily versions - and validated just the first time!

The machines aren't very sophisticated, and doing it more often would overwrite the time/date stamp, making it illegible for the inspectors - who do 'patrol' and levy quite high fines fairly frequently, as well as throwing you off the bus wherever the next stop happens to be.... so be sure to keep yours with you!

Possibly there's also a section on the back you have to fill in - the ones 'ashore' come with conditions that go like this:

"The owner must fill in the appropriate blanks with his/her name and date of birth . He/she must also show an ID when requested. If this information is not provided or if he/she does not show a valid ID, the passenger will be considered to be without a ticket."

If uncertain, ask Sandro at the Europa to have a look!

Peter

A_Brit_In_Ischia

The waters....

We've not been to Nitrodi, however you might try:
http://www.fonteninfenitrodi.com/en/

At least no sign of any swim hats?

Negombo's our definite favourite - and the most spectacular - but, if making more than one visit, the trek does get to feel a bit long, especially on the way back... when we almost always need a taxi, we're so exhausted by it all!

Alternatively, from the stop on the opposite side of the road from the Europa, you can catch the number 15 bus, which (at the farthest end of its route) will drop you only yards from the gates of the Castiglione spa - just outside Ischia Porto, on the road to Casamicciola - which is also very pleasant. You'll find some pictures, and a link to their website, amongst these:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/spagards

OK?

Peter

debp

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Again you have come through with great information. I don't think I have any more questions, you really have covered everything. I really appreciate all your help. Your website is more than impressive.

I think Negombo is heaven on earth. I can't wait to be back in Ischia.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Although I rarely keep up with my "Photo-A-Day" intentions, perhaps these may tide you over...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recisch

Peter

debp

We are back from another great trip to Ischia! We really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Europa. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful. We booked a superior room with A/C. The room was pretty big, with a sitting area and it had a good sized balcony with a table and chairs. The location is great. There is a bus stop almost at the front door of the hotel and you can easily walk to the castle, the beach and quite a few restaurants. The pool area was very nice, quiet and relaxing. Great value for the price, I would highly recommend staying there if you are looking for a hotel in Ischia Ponte.

Depending on what you plan to do and where you want to go, it might be a good idea to consider staying somewhere else on the island (maybe for a few days). Although it is easy to take the bus from Ponte to Porto then catch another bus it becomes tiresome day after day. It seemed everyday we were sitting on a bus for 1/2 hour heading to the other side of the island. I couldn't help thinking, if we stayed somewhere else for a few days (maybe in Forio) we would have been closer to the places we wanted to go.

One more thing I'd like to mention, at Poseidon we were expecting to have to wear swim caps. I'm not sure if the rules have changed, while we did see a lot of swim caps we also saw lots of different ways heads were covered, baseball caps, straw hats, scarfs and even shower caps.

I'm already missing Ischia and wishing I was spending the day at Negombo...my favorite place on earth!

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Hi! Glad to hear it went so well - pretty warm though?

I think the rule at Poseidon is probably just that hair has to be covered in some way whilst in the pools - so as to stop it falling in the water and clogging the pipes etc!

But on the day, we found that all they sold were hairnet-like things, that I'd call swimming caps - others may use a different name?

Peter

PS: If you found your way down to Ponte, perhaps you'll recognise this new octogenarian - at his birthday party yesterday...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/ciccio_80