Island of Ischia Excursion - 70 euros
Itinerary
A day to explore the 'Green' island of Ischia starting with a pick up from your hotel, or established meeting place, for a transfer to the port of Sorrento and a 50 minute or so ferry crossing to Ischiai. (More detailed information on Ischia is provided below)
From the port of Ischia you continue by bus up to the "Belvedere" where you can sample local products and admire the magnificent panorama of the "Bay of Citara”. The turquoise, crystal clear sea is perfect for swimming and water sports and there is a beautiful beach with bars and restaurants.
Your next stop is in the small fishing village of Sant' Angelo where you will have free time to relax on the beach, eat at one of the many restaurants or look around the fashion boutiques. You also have the wonderful opportunity to decide whether to bathe in hot springs or visit the famous gardens of Lady Walton. (See below for more details)
The departure from Ischia back to Sorrento is at 17.20.
Days available
Thursday
Pickup points and times
You will be advised of the most convenient pickup point for your accommodation
Approx 08.00 start and 18.00 return depending on the pickup point
Method of payment
After reservations have been confirmed payment can be made by credit card before the visit or in the Sorrento office itself, whichever is the more convenient.
To book a reservation please use our enquiry form or telephone +44 (0) 1446 771220.
Optional extras paid on site.
La Mortella Villa entrance fee € 12.00
Additional Notes
Lunch is not included in the price of this excursion
Background information about the locations visited on this excursion
Here is some factual information about Ischia and its main attractions.
Bay of Citara
The historian D’ Ascia says that the water of Citara was placed by the Romans under the protection of Venus, a statue of Venus made of white marble was found but later destroyed. An old legend, inspired by rock formations that can be seen from the beach, said that a ship passed with Phaeacian and Ulisse, upon his return was transformed into a rock as punishment. It is also said that two men tried to escape from the ship, but they too were turned into rocks, before they got on to the beach. Nicer is the verbal tradition that says in this water the vestal virgins used to bathe, and that the thermal waters of these springs have revitalizing capabilities for lovers who swim there.
Sant' Angelo
Sant'Angelo d'Ischia is a small fishing village, south of the island has always radiated a special charm on its tourists, forever in search of a charming corner “uncontaminated and primitive”. The four houses under the Tower, and the old centre which starts from the small square with a handful of old houses partially restored, opening like a fan, invade the countryside of Madonnelle, Ruffano and Fondolillo have not really spoiled this remote corner of paradise. Sant'Angelo is actually a rock, a tuff cone, connected to the rest of the island by a thin isthmus and testimony of its volcanic origin and extending to the sea with a strip of dark sand. At the top of the small island called the "Tower" once stood a small church where St. Michael, the guardian angel who gave his name appears in the village. Sant'Angelo d'Ischia has a region rich in thermal springs and its exposed to the South, sheltered from cold winds and in a typical sandy inlet. On the right side of the village, past the church, we arrive at Quarry Petrelle where there are “stoves” and where in the fine sand, because of its heat, an egg will cook in less than a minute. It is one of the favourite tourist destinations with its gardens, spas, hotels beaches and outdoor restaurants that have maintained the beautiful scenery and above all peace and tranquillity, not to mention the boutiques that offer top quality fashion garments. The Spas of Sant'Angelo are among the oldest on the island and the treatments are mainly oriented for skin care.
La Mortella Gardens
Since 1990, every Spring it is possible to visit the wonderful garden of the villa "La Mortella” in Forio d'Ischia, where around 800 varieties of tropical and Mediterranean plants. The villa was designed in the '60s by the English architect Russell Page and bought to life by William and Susana Walton. It is possible to visit the villa where he lived for nearly three decades until his death on the 8th March 1983, Sir William Walton, one of the greatest contemporary British composers whose ashes are buried here in a rock on the promontory about 120 meters from sea level. From here you can see the beautiful panorama of Forio, a town on the island of Ischia, that in the '50s and '60s, became the preferred choice for writers, musicians and painters, among them Truman Capote, WH Auden and William Walton. The garden, which stretches over an area of about twenty thousand square meters, and the house-museum where the maestro composed his works are open to the public by the William Walton Charitable Trust (of which the honorary president is the Prince of Wales), the Italo-British charitable trust established by the widow of Sir William, Lady Walton, in order to keep up the memory of her husband. The William Walton Foundation, has as its principal aims, to make “La Mortella” a study centre for young talented musicians under the direction of leading masters of the world, and to open the gardens and the museum to the public.