# Piazza Bagni and the Spa Quarter **At a glance:** The Piazza Bagni area is the historic spa quarter of Casamicciola Terme, a short distance from the harbour on the lower slopes rising towards Epomeo. It includes the Gurgitello basin, at the foot of the Ombrasco hill, and the Cotto and Sinigallia basin, with their springs and the historic Belliazzi, Manzi and Fiola spas. ## Useful information - **Type:** Area - **Coordinates:** 40.743600, 13.908200 - **Where:** Behind the harbour, on the lower slopes towards Epomeo - **Thermal basins:** Gurgitello (east side) and Cotto and Sinigallia (west side) - **Water temperatures:** Between 50 and 65 °C - **Historic spas:** Belliazzi, Manzi, Fiola - **Landmark:** Piazza Bagni (Piazza Bagni di Gurgitello) ## Where it is The Piazza Bagni area lies behind the harbour of Casamicciola, less than a kilometre from the coast, where the town begins to climb towards Monte Epomeo and [upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/). Its centre is [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) (literally “Baths Square”), officially Piazza Bagni di Gurgitello, around which lie the springs and establishments that made the town famous. ## The two thermal basins ### The Gurgitello basin On the eastern side of the square, at the foot of the Ombrasco hill, lies the [Gurgitello basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/gurgitello-thermal-basin/). Seven springs converge here: the [Gurgitello spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/gurgitello-spring/), the [Stomaco or Cappone spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/stomaco-or-cappone-spring/), the [Oro, Argento and Ferro springs](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/oro-argento-and-ferro-springs/) (Gold, Silver and Iron), the [Ombrasco spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/ombrasco-spring/) and the Santa Maria del Popolo spring. The saline-bicarbonate-alkaline waters emerge at between 60 and 65 °C. ### The Cotto and Sinigallia basin On the western side, at the foot of the Olivo and Pera hills, is the [Cotto and Sinigallia basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/cotto-and-sinigallia-thermal-basin/), with waters of between 50 and 60 °C. Its springs include the [Tamburo](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/tamburo-spring/), the [Occhio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/occhio-spring/) and the [Spelonca](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/spelonca-spring/). ## The historic spas Around the two basins stand the establishments that tell the story of centuries of spa culture: the [Antiche Terme Belliazzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/belliazzi-historic-thermal-spa/), the [Antiche Terme Manzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/manzi-historic-thermal-spa/) and the [Antiche Terme Fiola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/fiola-historic-thermal-spa/), on Via Ombrasco. Right by the Gurgitello stood the old hospice of the [Pio Monte della Misericordia](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/pio-monte-della-misericordia-complex/): in the 19th century the thermal hospital occupied much of today's square, before being reborn on the seafront after 1883. The origins of this vocation are told in [The Birth of Spa Tourism](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/birth-of-spa-tourism/) and [History of the Gurgitello](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/history-of-the-gurgitello/). ## History and famous figures In 1864 [Giuseppe Garibaldi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giuseppe-garibaldi/) stayed for a day at Villa Manzi, next to the establishment of the same name, and took the cure with the Occhio and Gurgitello waters. In 1952 [Angelo Rizzoli](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/angelo-rizzoli/) began rebuilding the Manzi spa and hotel. Before town life shifted towards the coast, Piazza Bagni was one of the most important hubs of Casamicciola. ## The area today Today the area is at the centre of urban regeneration projects that aim to make water once again a defining feature of the town. Some spaces may be affected by building works. ## Things to do - Stroll among the springs and the façades of the historic spas. - Follow the [Piazza Bagni – Via Tommaso Morgera walk](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/piazza-bagni-via-tommaso-morgera-walk/) up to the upper part of the town. - Carry on towards La [Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/) or [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is there to see in the Piazza Bagni area? The square, the Gurgitello and Cotto and Sinigallia thermal basins and historic establishments such as the Terme Belliazzi and Manzi. It is the heart of Casamicciola's spa history. ### How far is Piazza Bagni from the harbour? Less than a kilometre: you head inland from the seafront. The walk is a gentle uphill climb. ### Which springs are found in Piazza Bagni? Seven springs converge in the Gurgitello basin, including the Gurgitello, Cappone, Oro, Argento, Ferro and Ombrasco. The Cotto basin includes the Tamburo, the Occhio and the Spelonca, among others. ## Also worth seeing - [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) - [Gurgitello Thermal Basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/gurgitello-thermal-basin/) - [Cotto and Sinigallia Thermal Basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/cotto-and-sinigallia-thermal-basin/) - [Gurgitello Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/gurgitello-spring/) - [Stomaco or Cappone Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/stomaco-or-cappone-spring/) - [Oro, Argento and Ferro Springs](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/oro-argento-and-ferro-springs/) - [Ombrasco Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/ombrasco-spring/) - [Tamburo Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/tamburo-spring/) - [Occhio Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/occhio-spring/) - [Spelonca Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/spelonca-spring/) - [Antiche Terme Belliazzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/belliazzi-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Antiche Terme Fiola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/fiola-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Antiche Terme Manzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/manzi-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Pio Monte della Misericordia Complex](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/pio-monte-della-misericordia-complex/) - [Piazza Bagni – Via Tommaso Morgera Walk](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/piazza-bagni-via-tommaso-morgera-walk/) - [Giuseppe Garibaldi in Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giuseppe-garibaldi/) - [Angelo Rizzoli and the Manzi Baths](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/angelo-rizzoli/) - [The Birth of Spa Tourism](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/birth-of-spa-tourism/) - [History of the Gurgitello](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/history-of-the-gurgitello/) - [Upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/) - [La Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/) - [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) ## Sources and further reading - [Ischia: i bacini idrotermali di Casamicciola – Hotel La Maggioressa](https://www.hotellamaggioressa.com/it/ischia/) - [Ospizio del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Casamicciola Terme – Italia Nostra](https://www.italianostra.org/beni-culturali/ospizio-del-pio-monte-della-misericordia-a-casamicciola-terme-na/) - [Ischia cambia volto, il piano strategico di Fuksas – MeteoWeb](https://www.meteoweb.eu/2024/06/ischia-cambia-volto-piano-strategico-fuksas/1001508052/) - [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)