|
|
|
Casamicciola TermeCasamicciola Terme, with a population of 7000 souls, lies furthest north in the Isle of Ischia. The coat of arms represents a small spring of mineral water, in which the old-lady Nizzola immerses her feet and cures any type of disease. This action summarizes and symbolizes the great function of thermal waters in Casamicciola: inestimable value spring of physical and mental health. The toponym Casamicciola (Casanizzola in the XVI century) derives from the Latin and means "Nizzola's home". During the Iron Age, the locals used to bake clay pots and other pottery on the heat coming out the rocks. The same heat was exploited for cooking and other housework. Nearby the current lovely restaurant "Il Castiglione" have been found some traces of an ancient village dating back to the Iron Age. In Casamicciola Terme you’ll be stunned from the marvel of the extinct volcano, visitable right to the end, as covered by a green and thick vegetation. Casamicciola Terme is enjoyable anytime of the year: let yourself be enchanted by the folkloric tradition of the living nativity scene… a very suggestive scenography admirable during Chistmas. Just below the hill of Castiglione, the gorgeous turquoise sea is even more embellished by the Grotto of Sibilla. The so-called Sibilla Cumana was a prophetess, a close up soothsayer that foresaw the future. She used to live in Cuma, an old village in front of Ischia. When the king Aristodemo ascended the throne of Cuma, Sibilla got constantly nettled and bothered from the king himself. Someday Sibilla, in order to show her immense power and how much she held the king in contempt, called her Vestals to lie on the sea over a huge mantle. She suddenly got on the mantle and, under the astonished eyes of the king and his courtiers, departed towards Ischia and took up her residence into the Grotto of Castiglione, later called "Grotto of Sibilla". Until the 60’s Casamicciola housed the most popular bathing-thermal establishments of the whole Campania. The thermal bath renowned all across Italy and over used to be Pio Monte della Misericordia. This historic establishment's founded in 1610 from the homonym congregation of Neapolitan nobles, in order to allow anybody to enjoy the amazing benefits of those natural thermal springs. Taking advantages of the free board, lodging and cures, every poor person of the island had the possibility to enjoy Casamicciola for 2 entire weeks per year. The resort was originally based in the area of Piazza dei Bagni and benefited the natural spring of Gurgitiello but, after the disastrous earthquake of 1883, it was rebuilt on the seashore. Unfortunately in the 60’s Pio Monte was totally abandoned and today its remains are still visible from the port. Casamicciola boasts the glorious tradition of Sambuca, that was indeed invented by the local Luigi Manzi during the Risorgimento. What to see in Casamicciola:
Festivals and folkloric events:
Other towns in the area: Anacapri, Barano d'Ischia, Capri, Forio d'Ischia, Ischia, Isola di Vivara, Procida |
 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
||
Home | Travel Guide | Travel Tips | Contact Us USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 800 509 8194 Fax International: +41 91 220 0877. Fax Italy: +39 089 311 5055. Fax USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 888 883 7172 All kind of questions and suggestions are welcome: info@summerinitaly.com. Copyright © 2001-2012 Summer In Italy. All rights reserved.
|
