# Piazza Maio **At a glance:** Piazza Maio is the historic centre of the upper part of Casamicciola Terme, at around 130 metres above sea level on the slopes of Epomeo. A crossroads of trails, it is where the Alum Trail ends and the climb to Epomeo begins, a short distance from the La Rita springs. Around the square stand historic churches such as the Purgatorio. ## Useful information - **Type:** Key places - **Area:** [Upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/) - **Address:** Piazza Maio, 80074 Casamicciola Terme NA - **Coordinates:** 40.742300, 13.900800 - **Where:** Upper Casamicciola, about 130 m above sea level - **Area:** Upper Casamicciola - **Trails:** End of the Alum Trail; start of the route to Monte Epomeo - **Nearby:** La Rita basin and baths, Piazza Bagni, Sentinella ## Where it is Piazza Maio lies in [upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/), at around 130 metres above sea level, on the northern slopes of Monte Epomeo. The name recalls the Maio (or Majo) district, one of the hillside localities that historical sources list among the settlements of the upper town. From here the view opens out over the gulf and the rooftops tumbling down to the sea. ## History The square is considered the historic centre of upper Casamicciola. Until 1883 it was the heart of the town; then the centre of civic life gradually shifted towards the coast: we tell the story in [Casamicciola after 1883](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/casamicciola-after-1883/). Today the area is at the centre of urban regeneration plans, which include the transformation of the route between Piazza Maio and the La Rita baths. ## A crossroads of trails Piazza Maio is one of the key landmarks for hiking in Casamicciola: - this is where the [Sentiero dell'Allume](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/alum-trail/) (Alum Trail) ends, about 8.4 km and three hours' walk from Fango (Lacco Ameno), taking in the Monte Cito fumarole field, the Caulare area with the remains of the alum-processing tanks, and Piazza Santa Barbara; - from here the [trail from the Maio towards Monte Epomeo](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/trail-from-maio-to-monte-epomeo/), the island's summit, sets off; - the western hills can be explored on the [Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/celario-monte-cito-crateca-trail/). ## What to see nearby From Piazza Maio the town's spa areas are easy to reach. To the west lies the [La Rita basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-thermal-basin/), in a ravine that forms part of an ancient crater, with 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/); heading down to the east you come to [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) and the [Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/). In the Maio area, on Via D'Aloisio, stands the [church of Santa Maria del Suffragio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/), known as the Purgatorio. ## Tips for your visit The streets around the square are narrow and steep: for the trails you will need hiking boots, water and suitable clothing. Some parts of the area may have building work in progress: always follow the signs and any access restrictions. ## Frequently asked questions ### Where is Piazza Maio? In the upper part of Casamicciola Terme, at about 130 metres above sea level on the northern slopes of Monte Epomeo. It is considered the historic centre of upper Casamicciola. ### Which trails pass through Piazza Maio? Piazza Maio is the end point of the Alum Trail, which starts from Fango and passes Monte Cito. The trail towards Monte Epomeo also starts here. ### What is there to see around Piazza Maio? Nearby are the Purgatorio church, the sanctuary of the Immacolata at the Sentinella and the La Rita valley with its thermal springs. ## Also worth seeing - [Upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/) - [Trail from the Maio to Monte Epomeo](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/trail-from-maio-to-monte-epomeo/) - [Alum Trail (Sentiero dell'Allume)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/alum-trail/) - [Celario – Monte Cito – Crateca Trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/celario-monte-cito-crateca-trail/) - [Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Purgatorio)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/) - [La Rita Thermal Basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-thermal-basin/) - [Antiche Terme La Rita](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-historic-thermal-spa/) - [La Rita Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/la-rita-spring/) - [La Sentinella](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/la-sentinella/) - [Casamicciola after 1883: the rebirth](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/casamicciola-after-1883/) - [Piazza Bagni](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-bagni/) - [Piazza Marina](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-marina/) ## 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/) - [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/)