# Upper Casamicciola **At a glance:** Upper Casamicciola is the hilly part of the town, on the northern slopes of Monte Epomeo. It includes the historic centre of Piazza Maio, the La Rita thermal basin, La Sentinella with its Geophysical Observatory and the western area towards Monte Cito. Some of the most beautiful trails in the municipality start and finish here. ## Useful information - **Type:** Area - **Coordinates:** 40.742300, 13.900800 - **Where:** Northern slopes of Monte Epomeo, above Piazza Bagni - **Main places:** Piazza Maio, La Rita, La Sentinella, Monte Cito - **Thermal spas:** La Rita basin, Antiche Terme La Rita - **Trails:** Alum Trail, Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca, Maio – Epomeo - **Altitude of Piazza Maio:** About 130 m ## Where it is Historical sources distinguish between lower Casamicciola, which includes the Marina, Piazza Bagni and Perrone, and upper Casamicciola, a group of hillside hamlets such as Maio, Il Monte and La Castagna. The upper town climbs from the [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/piazza-bagni-spa-quarter/) spa area towards the slopes of Monte Epomeo, the island's highest peak, and extends westwards to the hilly La Rita and Monte Cito area, on the boundary with Lacco Ameno. ## What it includes ### Piazza Maio [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/), at about 130 metres above sea level, is the historic centre of the upper town: from here you can reach the Bagni and La Rita spa areas, and trails set off towards Epomeo. ### La Rita In the western part lies the [La Rita basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-thermal-basin/), at the bottom of a ravine that forms part of an ancient crater, at the foot of the La Cesa hill. Its waters, between 60 and 72 °C, feed the [La Rita spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-spring/) and the [Antiche Terme La Rita](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-historic-thermal-spa/), on Calata Sant'Antonio. ### La Sentinella On the hill of La [Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/) stood the hotel where Garibaldi stayed in 1864 and the [Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/), founded after 1883 and directed by [Giulio Grablovitz](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giulio-grablovitz/). Here too are the [Sanctuary of the Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) and the [Church of the Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-of-the-addolorata/); in the Maio area stands the [Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/), known as the Purgatorio. ## History The upper town was the ancient heart of the town: here stood Piazza Maio with its parish church and, on the Sentinella hill, the grand hotels of the 19th century. Today regeneration projects also cover the area between Piazza Maio and the La Rita spa. ## Nature and trails - The [Alum Trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/alum-trail/) starts in Fango and ends in Piazza Maio after about 8.4 km, passing the fumarole field of [Monte Cito](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-cito-solfatara-fumaroles/). - The [Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/celario-monte-cito-crateca-trail/) explores the western hills and [Monte Cito](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-cito/). - The [trail from the Maio to Monte Epomeo](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/trail-from-maio-to-monte-epomeo/) climbs towards the island's summit. ## Tips for your visit The streets of the upper town are narrow and steep: the best way to explore is on foot, in comfortable shoes. Some areas may be affected by building works: always follow the signs. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is upper Casamicciola? It is the hilly part of the town, above the Piazza Bagni spa area. It includes Piazza Maio, La Rita, La Sentinella and the area towards Monte Cito. ### Which trails start from upper Casamicciola? The trail to Monte Epomeo starts from Piazza Maio, and the Alum Trail ends there, coming from Fango via Monte Cito. The western area is also crossed by the Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca trail. ### What is there to see in upper Casamicciola? Piazza Maio, the Sentinella hill with the sanctuary of the Immacolata and the old Observatory, the Purgatorio church and the La Rita valley. The streets are narrow and steep: they are best explored on foot. ## Also worth seeing - [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) - [La Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/) - [Grande Sentinella Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/) - [La Rita Thermal Basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-thermal-basin/) - [La Rita Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-spring/) - [Antiche Terme La Rita](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Stomaco or Cappone Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/stomaco-or-cappone-spring/) - [Trail from the Maio to Monte Epomeo](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/trail-from-maio-to-monte-epomeo/) - [Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca Trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/celario-monte-cito-crateca-trail/) - [Alum Trail (Sentiero dell'Allume)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/alum-trail/) - [Monte Cito](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-cito/) - [Monte Cito Solfatara and Fumaroles](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-cito-solfatara-fumaroles/) - [Church of the Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-of-the-addolorata/) - [Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Purgatorio)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/) - [Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) - [Giulio Grablovitz, the Sentinella Seismologist](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giulio-grablovitz/) - [Piazza Bagni and the Spa Quarter](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/piazza-bagni-spa-quarter/) ## Sources and further reading - [Il Sentiero dell'Allume – Ischia.it](https://www.ischia.it/sentiero-dell-allume) - [Ischia: i bacini idrotermali di Casamicciola – Hotel La Maggioressa](https://www.hotellamaggioressa.com/it/ischia/) - [Osservatorio Geodinamico di Casamicciola – INGV SISMOS](https://sismoslab.ingv.it/index.php/storia-della-sismologia/introduzione/gli-osservatori/o-150321) - [Ischia cambia volto, il piano strategico di Fuksas – MeteoWeb](https://www.meteoweb.eu/2024/06/ischia-cambia-volto-piano-strategico-fuksas/1001508052/) - [City of Casamicciola Terme – Ischia.it](https://ischia.it/en/history-of-the-municipalities-on-the-island-of-ischia/city-of-casamicciola-terme) - [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)