Lacco Ameno

Lacco Ameno is the smallest town on the island of Ischia, occupies the northwestern part of the island and extends along the sea and on the first slopes of Mount Epomeo. According to most scholars, the name Lacco derives from the Greek which means cistern; the adjective Ameno was added in 1863 by ministerial decree. The foundation of the city dates back to 770 BC. C. and is considered the oldest western polis. The Basilica Santa Restituita d'Africa, was built in 1301 on a previous oratory. Returned from Africa was a Berber saint, virgin martyr whose cult spread to Italy in the early Middle Ages. Inside the basilica there is the museum of Santa Restituita which was born in the early 1950s and houses the Pithecusan vases and shards of dishes and amphorae. It is also possible to admire a path that tells the story of the island of Ischia from prehistoric times to the Greek-Hellenistic-Roman period. Lecco Ameno is also famous for its typical dishes with simple and local flavors, such as: spaghetti with clams, gnocchi alla sorrentina, pasta and beans with mussels, Ischia style rabbit, fried fish, gypsy and pizza margherita . The most famous hotel in the city is Lacco Ameno which has 5 stars built in the 70s and it is thanks to the ingenuity of its founder Angelo Rizzoli that the city became a popular destination for the jet-set. The archaeological museum of Pithecusae in Villa Arbusto tells the story of Pithecusae as the first Greek colony along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Inside there is the terracotta cup of Nestor on which a poem dedicated to Aphrodite is engraved. On the island there are several artisans who are involved in making unique handmade products, such as artisans who deal with the processing of the leather sandal. In the Negombo Lacca park, place of the first arrival of the Greeks. The park is dedicated to spring waters and proximity to the sea. The thermal waters of Ischia are a place where you can find yourself and enjoy a splendid view from above.