Perhaps most familiar as the backdrop to much of "The Talented Mister Ripley",

the fortified city on this small islet, known locally as the Castello Aragonese,

includes the ruins of the former cathedral, destroyed by the guns of the

British navy more than two hundred years ago.

For more pictures, click here: http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/castaraginter

For more pictures of the beautiful tropical gardens in the grounds of the

home built on Ischia by English composer Sir William Walton and his wife,

Lady Susanah - and of the museum and concert spaces, start here

___ http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/forio

Be sure to check carefully - they've an unusual pattern of opening days!

. . . . Much of the shoreline around the island of Ischia is made up of beaches - some of them the size of a pocket-handkerchief, others a mile or more. Thanks to the winter storms, the sand will sometimes be moved up or down the beach - so a spot that's wonderful one year may disappoint the next! In August, you'll certainly need a watertaxi to find some solitude, but at other times most of them aren't quite as crowded. Click on individual images to see the larger versions..

(Update: 2 May 2013: Most sadly, a serious fire, that seems to have started

early this morning, looks to have put "La Pirata" out of action for a while)

Initially we were put off by the shanty-town look of the many excellent waterfront

eateries to be found along the island's coast.

But eventually we realised how often people were coming off their yachts to eat in

them, or - luxury of luxuries - having their entire meal ferried out to them!

If you've no yacht of your own, this one - La Pirata, in the bay of Cartaromana

- is a great choice as you can get there by taxiboat from either of the pickup

points near the Castello Aragonese in Ischia Ponte.

For such a small island, there are lots of footpaths and quiet roads that lead to

wonderful viewpoints, secluded woodlands etc.

Here - on the road up to Campagnano - there's a fine view back down to the acqueduct

which once carried water from springs on the mountain above Fiaiano down and across

to the Bourbon palazzi in Ischia Ponte.

Look here for details of "The Lizard trails" - a series of walking paths set up by

the Comune of Barano... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/baracom

There are more vines, and vineyards, scattered than you can shake a stick at - and,

until the delelopment of tourism took off in the 50s and 60s, wine was the island's

chief source of income.

Today several wineries, including Casa D'Ambra, Pietratorcia and the Giardini Arimei,

welcome visitors - either singly or in pre-booked parties.

For pictures from the tour staged during the harvest by growers in the Panza district,

look here.... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/panzacan