'O Vagnitiello Thermal Park

Where it is

'O Vagnitiello Thermal Park lies on the eastern coastal strip of Casamicciola Terme, in a sheltered cove west of the Castiglione headland, a few minutes from the centre. The address is Via Vicinale Bagnitiello 32. The name is the dialect form of Bagnitiello, the locality and thermal spring that have defined this stretch of coast for centuries. From the cove the view opens out over the Gulf of Naples, towards the Aragonese Castle and Procida.

The Bagnitiello spring

The park stands on the Bagnitiello spring, part of the Castiglione hydrothermal basin. Its hot water reaches the shore: it seeps between the rocks and forms small natural pools where it mingles with the water of the gulf. Historical sources describe the Castiglione basin as a system of very hot waters, rich in sulphates, alkaline bicarbonates and sodium chloride, linked to the fumaroles in the area.

The legend of Acmenus

One of the island's most tender legends is linked to the Bagnitiello. In 1726 the Jesuit Camillo Eucherio Quinzi published the Latin poem Inarime, devoted to the baths of Ischia. It tells of the young Acmenus, son of a water nymph, who after falling into a stream called on the gods and was turned into a spring by Jupiter. According to the poem, his waters brought relief from ailments, especially earache: a story that still accompanies the spring's fame today.

The park today

'O Vagnitiello presents itself as a hydrotherapy beach park with a restaurant and rooms. Descriptions of the park mention four pools of different sizes: the largest near the sea, the others on the terraces of the slope among plants and flowers, with whirlpool, a Kneipp path, a children's pool and a very hot pool, as well as a sauna and solarium. A purpose-built path leads from the terraces to the rocks and the clear water of the cove, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

Practical information

The park opens seasonally. Check opening hours, prices and services on the official website before your visit. The seabed in the cove is rocky and pebbly: water shoes are recommended.

How to get there

From the port of Casamicciola, follow the coastal main road towards Ischia Porto as far as the Bagnitiello area, where there are also public bus stops; from the road, walk down to the cove.

What to see nearby

• Bagnitielli Beach, the small cove of rocks and pebbles at the foot of the park.
• The Castiglione Thermal Park, on the headland a little further east.
• The Castiglione coastal strip, with its springs flowing into the sea.