From ancient times Ischia was considered a very interesting area both for its good position into the Mediterranean sea and for the richness of its territory.
During the VII century b.C the island was colonized from the Greek, the Eubei population, and they called it Phitekoussai. From here they maked the coast conquest and they founded Cuma and Neapolis. They settled down in Lacco Ameno, in Montevico area. Actually we know with security their main activity was the pottery production and its trade.
Afterwards in about 500 b.C. the island was conquered from the Syracusans which chased the hellenic people. Phitekussai was destroyed and the island suffered several dominations, among which the Roman who gave it to the Neapolitan kingdom exchanging it with Capri. Under the Roman colonization it was called Aenaria and its centre became the Cartaromana's area in Ischia Ponte, unfortunately, after a rapid ground settling it was flooded with the sea water. From the IXth century started the terrible invasions of Saracens, the raids of the Turkish and the Africans, which lasted seven hundred years. On this period the people of the gulf built outpost, towers and a signalling visual system from the Sorrento peninsula to Cuma warning the ennemies arrival.
The island's inhabitants were obliged to escape towards the island's interior , where they built some shelters on tufa rocks which can be see still nowadays. On the following periods Ischia was dominated by different population: the Normans, the Swabians, the Angevins and at last the Aragoneses whom with the Avalos' family gave to the isle a quiet period and a renowed economy. Their domination became gradually a vexation, so on 1729 when Michelangelo d'Avalos died there was an authentic rebellion. The result was a direct administration of the sovereign house of Naples and it so remained until the unity of Italy.
Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Near Forio d’Ischia, perched atop the cliffs in the midst of a thick pine grove of seven hectares, in one of the most enchanting and still unspoiled corners of Mediterranean maquis ...
It is the smallest town of the island, but not the least well known! Its waters - of Legni, Capitello, Santa Restituta, Regina Isabella, the thermal sands of Santa Restituta and the steamy cave of San Lorenzo - are famous ...
(Lacco Ameno)