Whilst travelling around Ischia I noticed the many hot thermal spas, well-tended landscaped gardens, spa parks, forests, sandy beaches and pretty little towns too.
Fish is the speciality dish of the island but there are also a variety of other Italian favourite dishes to choose from too which should please all food enthusiasts.
Ischia also only attracts a small fraction of the day trippers that head to its busy neighbour Capri from Naples during the summer months. However, I believe this is an advantage as those who venture to Ischia can enjoy the understated allure of this amiable island without the busy crowds spoiling the view.
A must visit in Ischia is the prominent medieval Aragonese Castle, packed with deep history and boasts some of the most glorious views too. For those looking for something a little closer to ground then I recommend a visit to the enchanted Giardini La Mortella for a special garden tour.
The day soon turns to night and I visit Coquille, a very stylish and contemporary lounge bar with a lovely restaurant located in town. The décor is flush with a variety of brilliant shades of white that sparkle through the flowing floor to ceiling curtains and drapes. The furniture resembles the look and feel of a high-end beach club in St.Tropez and the hip and trendy crowd in attendance sipped on cocktails to the backdrop of soothing soulful jazz music.
Dinner was a real treat at Da Bellezza restaurant which is located in Ischia port. I was served with a selection of impressive authentic homemade dishes which were heavenly. I loved the tasty and moreish bruschetta, topped with lashings of chopped tomatoes, peppers and spices. I also got the pleasure to meet Grandma Louisa who prepared my meal from scratch in the busy kitchen which was a real delight.
After dinner, I took a short stroll to the port where the sublime yachts are moored and all the bustling bars and nightlife merge. I wandered into Porto 51 which is a dashing bar and a family run business by three brothers and their sister that seems to be the hotspot everyone wants to visit. A gorgeous sophisticated group of people combined with a passionate DJ that kept the dance floor moving with uptempo floor fillers and classic crowd pleasers such as Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ set the tone for a truly magical evening.
My Italian tour of Sorrento, Capri and Ischia was nothing short of first class from start to finish and I enjoyed the outstanding landscapes, amazing sea views, gorgeous gastronomy, rich history and electric nightlife to name but a few things on offer during my stay. Sorrento really is an excellent location to be based in order to coordinate trips to neighbouring islands for further exploration through this sensational part of Italy.
In short, this Italian tour is perfect for a couple seeking a romantic long weekend, a family getaway or a solo explorer. I am already planning my return visit to this first-rate part of Italy real soon.
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Citalia (01293 765 066, (www.citalia.com), the leading Italian specialist, is offering a six-night holiday to Sorrento and Ischia from £1,195 per person. The offer includes three nights in Sorrento at the five-star Grand Hotel Royal on a B&B basis, followed by three nights at the five-star Grand Hotel Punta Molino on a Half Board basis. The offer also includes private resort transfers and return international flights from London Gatwick with EasyJet. Based on departures until 05 October 2017.
Photography courtesy of Citalia