Piazza Bagni

The spa heart of Casamicciola

In the heart of the historic part of Casamicciola Terme, Piazza Bagni (literally “Baths Square”) holds one of the area's deepest identities: the one bound up with its springs and centuries-old spa tradition. It was here, around the Gurgitello basin, that a large part of the town's spa history unfolded. Over the centuries the properties of the waters drew scholars, travellers and visitors, helping to make Casamicciola one of the best-known spa resorts on the island of Ischia.

Strolling through Piazza Bagni today means getting to know a different Casamicciola from the one on the seafront: quieter, steeped in the village's memories and in the events that built its reputation over time. Here, taking the waters is not just a wellness experience but a fundamental part of the town's very identity.

A history born of water

The history of Piazza Bagni is inseparable from that of its springs. On the eastern side of the square, at the foot of the Ombrasco hill, lies the Gurgitello basin, with seven springs and waters between 60 and 65 °C, which in the 16th century the physician Giulio Iasolino called the “queen” of the island's thermal mineral waters. On the western side is the Cotto and Sinigallia basin. Around the springs grew facilities devoted to treatment and hospitality: the old hospice of the Pio Monte della Misericordia, which in the 19th century occupied much of the present-day square, and establishments such as the Antiche Terme Belliazzi and the Antiche Terme Manzi.

The historic face of Casamicciola

Before the centre of town life shifted towards the coast, Piazza Bagni was one of the most important hubs of the town. In 1864 Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived here, staying for a day at Villa Manzi before moving to the Sentinella; in 1952 Angelo Rizzoli began the rebuilding of the Manzi baths and hotel. The changes of the late 19th century, when the town renewed itself facing the sea, profoundly altered this part of the area, but its link with spa history remains its defining feature. Find out more in The birth of spa tourism and History of the Gurgitello.

Today Piazza Bagni is at the centre of the town's regeneration projects.

What to see

• The Gurgitello thermal basin, one of the landmark sites of Casamicciola's spa tradition.
• The historic Belliazzi and Manzi baths and, on Via Ombrasco, the Antiche Terme Fiola.
• The streets that climb to the upper town, including the Piazza Bagni – Via Tommaso Morgera walk.

How to get there

Piazza Bagni is less than a kilometre from the harbour and Piazza Marina: you can walk there by heading uphill into the town. From here you can continue towards the Sentinella and Piazza Maio. Some areas may be affected by building work: please follow the signs.