The day began with breakfast at the Mercato and then a bus ride south and west toward the City of Naples. We boarded the ferry in the Port of Pozzuoli then made the crossing to the Island of Ischia.
Crossing the Tyrrhenian Sea, we enjoyed the fresh sea breezes and views of many islands and ships from the top deck. We arrived to port in the late afternoon and had some time to explore the city as well as the various swimming pools at the hotel.
We then enjoyed a lovely dinner at the hotel.
On Saturday morning we headed out on a driving tour of the island, taking in many sights along the way. Ischia is almost entirely mountainous and is a popular tourist destination for its thermal spas and hot springs. As such, we made a stop at a seaside hot spring to test out the waters and experience some time at the beach.
In the afternoon, we appreciated a guided tour of the Castello Aragonese, built by Hiero I of Syracusa in 474 BC, on a little island linked to Ischia by a small bridge.
Looking over the castle walls, we were able to see the sun set over the island.
Near the castle, we ate dinner at a local restaurant, then had some free time to explore the old town and seaside area before heading back to the hotel.
On our last day, we were thankful for a bit of a sleep-in before breakfast. We then had another chance to admire the pools and go for a swim.
