# The Rebirth of the Spa Tradition after 1883 **At a glance:** After 1883 Casamicciola was reborn facing the sea. A new building code, the first anti-seismic legislation of united Italy, guided the rise of new buildings: the Pio Monte opened its thermal hospice on the seafront in 1895, the mother church was reborn in 1896, and in Piazza Bagni the Gurgitello establishments continued to welcome guests. ## Useful information - **Type:** History of spa culture - **Period:** From 1883 - **Coordinates:** 40.743600, 13.908150 - **Building code:** Building Code for the island's municipalities, in force from 15 September 1884 - **Town plan:** Domenico Lo Gatto, November 1883 - **Landmarks of the rebirth:** Pio Monte on the seafront (1895); Basilica of Santa Maria Maddalena (1896) - **Places:** Piazza Bagni, Piazza Maio, Piazza Marina and the seafront - **Name:** Casamicciola Terme since 1956 ## A new season In the summer of 1883 Casamicciola was one of the most popular spa resorts in Europe. After 1883 the town went through a long season of renewal that changed its face and gradually brought it towards the sea. ## Rules for rebuilding On 15 September 1883 the Ministry of Public Works set up the Commission for building regulations on the island of Ischia. Its recommendations were incorporated into the Building Code for the island's municipalities, in force from 15 September 1884, which presented itself as the first Italian anti-seismic study. New buildings were preferably to stand on level ground, away from the hills; buildings were not to exceed two storeys; for public buildings, “baraccate” structures in timber or iron were recommended. Extradosed vaults, loggias and domes disappeared, replaced by pitched roofs on trusses. ## The town moves towards the sea The Marina was built up with new buildings and districts, following the town plan drawn up by Domenico Lo Gatto in November 1883. The most important buildings were reborn further down: the parish church became the new [basilica of Santa Maria Maddalena](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/basilica-sacred-heart-santa-maria-maddalena/) (1896), and the Pio Monte built its new thermal hospice on the seafront, opened in 1895, away from the Gurgitello spring that had fed its baths for almost three centuries. The town centre settled permanently around [Piazza Marina](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-marina/), while [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) and [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) remained the historic quarters of the upper town and of the spas. ## The Piazza Bagni establishments In Piazza Bagni the spas carried on working. The Bourbon Gurgitello establishment, now the [Antiche Terme Belliazzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/belliazzi-historic-thermal-spa/), according to its company history came through those years unscathed. Among the owners of the establishments on the square was Gioconda Gallinari in Manzi, from whom the [Antiche Terme Manzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/manzi-historic-thermal-spa/) descend. The square, transformed and enlarged, did however become somewhat out of the way for the new tourist flows. ## A patient recovery The town grew again patiently: Casamicciola once more exceeded 4,000 inhabitants in the 1936 census. Those years also brought a new scientific focus: the building code suggested setting up an observatory in Casamicciola, later built at the Grande Sentinella, today's [Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/). In the 20th century the spa vocation remained the town's identity, and in 1956 it added “Terme” to its name. ## Further reading The rebirth of the spas and hotels is told in [Belle Époque Spas and Hotels](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/belle-epoque-spas-and-hotels/) and the story of the hospice in [The Pio Monte and Thermal Care for the Poor](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/pio-monte-thermal-care-for-the-poor/). The town's urban transformation is the focus of [Casamicciola after 1883: the rebirth](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/casamicciola-after-1883/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What changed for the spas after 1883? The Pio Monte's thermal hospice left Piazza Bagni and was reborn on the seafront, where it opened in 1895. The town centre moved towards the sea, while in Piazza Bagni the Gurgitello establishments carried on working. ### What was Italy's first anti-seismic building code? It is the Building Code for the municipalities of the island of Ischia, in force from 15 September 1884 and created to guide the rebirth of Casamicciola. It is regarded as unified Italy's first anti-seismic study. ### What are “baraccate” houses? They are buildings with a frame of timber beams set into the masonry. After 1883 the building code recommended them for new construction, especially for public buildings. ### Are the Piazza Bagni spas still open? Yes: according to its company history, the Gurgitello establishment, now the Antiche Terme Belliazzi, came through those years unscathed and still uses the waters of the basin today. ## Also worth seeing - [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) - [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) - [Piazza Marina](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-marina/) - [Pio Monte della Misericordia Complex](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/pio-monte-della-misericordia-complex/) - [Antiche Terme Belliazzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/belliazzi-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Antiche Terme Manzi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/manzi-historic-thermal-spa/) - [Grande Sentinella Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/) - [Casamicciola after 1883: the rebirth](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/casamicciola-after-1883/) - [The Pio Monte and Thermal Care for the Poor](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/pio-monte-thermal-care-for-the-poor/) - [Belle Époque Spas and Hotels](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/belle-epoque-spas-and-hotels/) - [Basilica of the Sacro Cuore di Gesù and Santa Maria Maddalena Penitente](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/basilica-sacred-heart-santa-maria-maddalena/) - [History of Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/) ## Sources and further reading - [Dipartimento della Protezione Civile – Il terremoto del 28 luglio 1883 a Casamicciola nell'isola d'Ischia (Servizio Sismico Nazionale, 1998)](https://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/pubblicazione/il-terremoto-del-28-luglio-1883-casamicciola-nellisola-di-ischia/) - [INGVterremoti – Casamicciola, 28 luglio 1883](https://ingvterremoti.com/2018/07/27/i-terremoti-nella-storia-28-luglio-1883-la-catastrofe-di-casamicciola-sullisola-dischia/) - [F. Capano, Il terremoto di Casamicciola del 1883: norme antisismiche e cupole tra storia e struttura, 'Ananke 91, 2020](https://www.iris.unina.it/retrieve/e268a733-c812-4c8f-e053-1705fe0a812c/4_ART_CA_2020_CapanoF_CasamicciolaTerremoto_'ANANKE91.pdf) - [F. Capano, Casamicciola: un soggiorno privilegiato nel secolo della borghesia, 'Ananke 85, 2018](https://www.iris.unina.it/handle/11588/729463) - [Wikipedia – Terremoto di Casamicciola del 1883](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terremoto_di_Casamicciola_del_1883) - [Catalogo generale dei Beni Culturali (SIGEC) – Ospizio termale del Pio Monte della Misericordia](https://sigecweb.beniculturali.it/sigec/item/print/ICCD14905378) - [Antiche Terme Belliazzi – La nostra storia](https://termebelliazzi.it/home/la-nostra-storia) - [Wikipedia – Casamicciola Terme](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casamicciola_Terme)