Negombo thermal park

Come on in. The water is fantastic.

Quite soothing and relaxing, in fact.

With the thermal pool — featuring hydro-massaging jets — kept at a constant temperature of 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit, I can understand why.

Sometimes, it’s little life events such as taking a day to pamper yourself that can do wonders to rejuvenate the soul, and thermal spas in Italy — particularly the region around Naples — abound. A recent trip to the popular Negombo resort on the volcanic island of Ischia proved worthy of its 28-euro entry fee (ticket bought from a tourist center at Ischia Porto for a 2-euro discount.)

Negombo thermal park

Negombo, set on the shores of the Bay of San Montano on the northwestern side of the island and splashed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, is considered one of the richest therapeutic basins in the region and a generous source of thermal water, according to an information packet doled out to visitors.

The park offers a number of “pools,” each designed to achieve a particular benefit. The thermal pools provide relaxation and are said to work toward the prevention of rheumatism, while the hydro-massaging jets stimulate circulation. The heat from the hamam, or Turkish sauna/bath, helps the body expel toxins and the private beach provides access to the sea for swimming and exposure to iodine, which benefits the thyroid gland.

Negombo thermal park

Negombo is more than a spa with thermal pools, however. It boasts lavish gardens designed by landscape artist Ermanno Casasco, who incorporated more than 500 varieties of Mediterranean and exotic plants throughout the park.

But quite honestly, while pretty, people don’t really go to Negombo for the gardens. They go for the thermal water spouts, the tufa sauna cave, or the “Kneipp” pool, which features two pools of water, one hot and one cold. Wading into one and then the other, with their contrast of temperatures, stimulates circulation and tones the body.

There’s the Olympic-size sea water pool, kept at ambient temperature, or the Jacuzzi with hydro-massaging jets and kept at a soothing, constant 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. (It seats eight and tends to remain full.)

And for the maximum indulgence, be sure to hit up the hamam, complete with a hot center stone on which patrons sit or lie to induce profuse sweating that causes the body to eliminate toxins.

Negombo thermal park

Bring a robe, flip-flops and bathing suit — this isn’t a no-clothes spa.

The healing properties and overall benefits of thermal waters have been used since the time of the Etruscans, some 800 years B.C.

DIRECTIONS: From Ischia Porto or Casamicciola, take public bus 1, 2 or CS for Baia San Montano. Get off at the San Lorenzo stop and follow the signs to the park.

TIMES: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

COSTS: It costs 30 euros per person at the resort, but tickets bought at Busfahrkarten ticket booth at Ischia Porto main square can save you 2 euros a ticket. Bus tickets cost 1.90 euros for 90 minutes.

INFORMATION: www.negombo.it/en 

Negombo thermal park

Come on in. The water is fantastic.

Quite soothing and relaxing, in fact.

With the thermal pool — featuring hydro-massaging jets — kept at a constant temperature of 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit, I can understand why.

Sometimes, it’s little life events such as taking a day to pamper yourself that can do wonders to rejuvenate the soul, and thermal spas in Italy — particularly the region around Naples — abound. A recent trip to the popular Negombo resort on the volcanic island of Ischia proved worthy of its 28-euro entry fee (ticket bought from a tourist center at Ischia Porto for a 2-euro discount.)

Negombo thermal park

Negombo, set on the shores of the Bay of San Montano on the northwestern side of the island and splashed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, is considered one of the richest therapeutic basins in the region and a generous source of thermal water, according to an information packet doled out to visitors.

The park offers a number of “pools,” each designed to achieve a particular benefit. The thermal pools provide relaxation and are said to work toward the prevention of rheumatism, while the hydro-massaging jets stimulate circulation. The heat from the hamam, or Turkish sauna/bath, helps the body expel toxins and the private beach provides access to the sea for swimming and exposure to iodine, which benefits the thyroid gland.

Negombo thermal park

Negombo is more than a spa with thermal pools, however. It boasts lavish gardens designed by landscape artist Ermanno Casasco, who incorporated more than 500 varieties of Mediterranean and exotic plants throughout the park.

But quite honestly, while pretty, people don’t really go to Negombo for the gardens. They go for the thermal water spouts, the tufa sauna cave, or the “Kneipp” pool, which features two pools of water, one hot and one cold. Wading into one and then the other, with their contrast of temperatures, stimulates circulation and tones the body.

There’s the Olympic-size sea water pool, kept at ambient temperature, or the Jacuzzi with hydro-massaging jets and kept at a soothing, constant 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. (It seats eight and tends to remain full.)

And for the maximum indulgence, be sure to hit up the hamam, complete with a hot center stone on which patrons sit or lie to induce profuse sweating that causes the body to eliminate toxins.

Negombo thermal park

Bring a robe, flip-flops and bathing suit — this isn’t a no-clothes spa.

The healing properties and overall benefits of thermal waters have been used since the time of the Etruscans, some 800 years B.C.

DIRECTIONS: From Ischia Porto or Casamicciola, take public bus 1, 2 or CS for Baia San Montano. Get off at the San Lorenzo stop and follow the signs to the park.

TIMES: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

COSTS: It costs 30 euros per person at the resort, but tickets bought at Busfahrkarten ticket booth at Ischia Porto main square can save you 2 euros a ticket. Bus tickets cost 1.90 euros for 90 minutes.

INFORMATION: www.negombo.it/en 

Negombo thermal park

Come on in. The water is fantastic.

Quite soothing and relaxing, in fact.

With the thermal pool — featuring hydro-massaging jets — kept at a constant temperature of 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit, I can understand why.

Sometimes, it’s little life events such as taking a day to pamper yourself that can do wonders to rejuvenate the soul, and thermal spas in Italy — particularly the region around Naples — abound. A recent trip to the popular Negombo resort on the volcanic island of Ischia proved worthy of its 28-euro entry fee (ticket bought from a tourist center at Ischia Porto for a 2-euro discount.)

Negombo thermal park

Negombo, set on the shores of the Bay of San Montano on the northwestern side of the island and splashed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, is considered one of the richest therapeutic basins in the region and a generous source of thermal water, according to an information packet doled out to visitors.

The park offers a number of “pools,” each designed to achieve a particular benefit. The thermal pools provide relaxation and are said to work toward the prevention of rheumatism, while the hydro-massaging jets stimulate circulation. The heat from the hamam, or Turkish sauna/bath, helps the body expel toxins and the private beach provides access to the sea for swimming and exposure to iodine, which benefits the thyroid gland.

Negombo thermal park

Negombo is more than a spa with thermal pools, however. It boasts lavish gardens designed by landscape artist Ermanno Casasco, who incorporated more than 500 varieties of Mediterranean and exotic plants throughout the park.

But quite honestly, while pretty, people don’t really go to Negombo for the gardens. They go for the thermal water spouts, the tufa sauna cave, or the “Kneipp” pool, which features two pools of water, one hot and one cold. Wading into one and then the other, with their contrast of temperatures, stimulates circulation and tones the body.

There’s the Olympic-size sea water pool, kept at ambient temperature, or the Jacuzzi with hydro-massaging jets and kept at a soothing, constant 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. (It seats eight and tends to remain full.)

And for the maximum indulgence, be sure to hit up the hamam, complete with a hot center stone on which patrons sit or lie to induce profuse sweating that causes the body to eliminate toxins.

Negombo thermal park

Bring a robe, flip-flops and bathing suit — this isn’t a no-clothes spa.

The healing properties and overall benefits of thermal waters have been used since the time of the Etruscans, some 800 years B.C.

DIRECTIONS: From Ischia Porto or Casamicciola, take public bus 1, 2 or CS for Baia San Montano. Get off at the San Lorenzo stop and follow the signs to the park.

TIMES: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

COSTS: It costs 30 euros per person at the resort, but tickets bought at Busfahrkarten ticket booth at Ischia Porto main square can save you 2 euros a ticket. Bus tickets cost 1.90 euros for 90 minutes.

INFORMATION: www.negombo.it/en 

Lacco Ameno

Lacco Ameno is a town and comune situated in the northwest of the island of Ischia.

Municipalities of Ischia; Lacco Ameno

It is located at the feet of the Mount Epomeo, facing the sea. The name most likely derives from the Greek lakkos, meaning "stone". The name ameno was added to the official name in 1862.

Lacco Ameno is home to an 11th-century church, built over a pre-existing Palaeo-Christian edifice. The Museum of Santa Restituta houses several prehistorical findings and Greek ceramics from the 8th-2nd centuries BC.

Municipalities of Ischia; Lacco Ameno

Lacco Ameno has several tourist hotspots such as; San Montano Beach, with it's natural enclosure, flanked by two hills creating a little bay with shallow water, great for having a paddle or a refreshing swim.

Municipalities of Ischia; Lacco Ameno

Alongside San Montano Beach is one of Ischia's main attractions, Negombo Thermal Gardens. Negombo is a thermal water park with twelve different pools of varying temperatures, including natural saunas.

San Montano and Negombo are just a five minute walk from the town centre which has a good number of shops, bars and restaurants as well as another beach, Il Fungo Beach.

Lacco Ameno also has a pretty marina which attracts a range of craft from small fishing boats right up to mega-yachts with their VIPs who moor up in the town to enjoy the atmosphere, grab an ice-cream at one of the beach-side bars, enjoy some shopping or to eat at one of the harbour-side restaurants.