Villa Maria Luisa Ischia

About Forio

Forio is the second largest municipality, by population and importance. It stretches between two promontories, Punta Caruso (at Zaro) and Punta Imperatore, between beaches which are considered the most beautiful of the island and into the metallic green of the vineyards, which rom the Epomeo mountain, descend into a scenary of incomparable beauty.

It is the only town which has preserved its historical places with the narrow streets, churches, sighting towers and the monuments in their original shape. Major monuments: the church of Soccorso (pictured on the Italian stamps) dedicated to Santa Maria della Neve, il Torrione, the church of San Francesco da Paola, the church of the archibrotherhood of Santa Maria delle Grazie named Visitapoveri, the Basilica Pontificia of S. Maria di Loreto, Church of St. Vito, the Parish Church of St. Leonardo Abate, S. Maria al Monte.

If is Ischia is the the mall of the island, Forio can be defined the cultural one. In the 50s it was the international center for important show business people (Luchino Visconti, Pierpaolo Pasolini, Sir William Walton, Eduardo De Filippo, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton), of the culture (Elsa Morante, Alberto Moravia, Renato Guttuso, Auden, Pablo Neruda), of the politics (Pietro Nenni) and of the jet-set (Jackeline Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis) and many others.

The shoreline of Forio, with its continuous recesses and protrusions, allows bathing not just from the long beaches, but also in more secluded spots. With little effort it is possible to get to Zaro or, in Panza, the truly unique bay of Sorgeto taht for the presence of pools of hot water is, in any season, attractive destination for a "nightly swim."