S.P.A. TRAVEL DIARY: ISCHIA Honeymoon

Best italian island ever?

Ischia is a volcanic island shaped by water, time, and ancient bathing culture. Over 100 thermal springs feed 29 unique sources, each with distinct healing qualities documented by 16th-century physician Giulio Iasolino. Even in ancient times the Greeks and Romans bathed here, soaking in the mineral-rich muds, sulfuric fumaroles, and sea-fed baths like Sorgeto.

Iasolino’s 1588 text meticulously mapped Ischia’s springs. By the 1600s, spots like Casamicciola were known to treat arthritis, pain, and respiratory issues with people coming to breathe the vapors and soak in the mud. Despite its rich natural springs, modern Ischia needs to pipe in water from Naples to accommodate its seasonal jump from 60,000 residents to one million people on the island in the months of July and August. (beware)

Ischia’s spa culture quietly took off in the 1950s. Spa parks like Poseidon and Negombo now host thousands, and 300+ hotels offer thermal treatments. Yet many visitors still treat Ischia a detour - an affordable alternative to Naples, Capri, or the Amalfi Coast. But unlike other Tyrrhenian seaside hotspots, Ischia offers something they don’t: a rich and living culture of spa and water that extends far beyond hotel saunas, infinity pools, or standard massages.

With the renewed popularity of water-based wellness and naturally occurring compounds for organic healing, Ischia is finally reclaiming the spotlight it once held. All in ode to taking the waters.

Without further ado or wait, here’s my personal Ischian travel guide and spa picks from my recent honeymoon and recap of adventures from the past.