Chiesa del Soccorso

We begin our tour to discover Ischia and as soon as we leave the port of Forio, here is the first beauty that we will be able to observe: "The Church of Soccorso". Located overlooking the sea, glittering thanks to its white plaster that stands out against the blue sky, the Chiesa del Soccorso is not only a well-known tourist destination much loved by those who visit Ischia and its localities, but it is also the emblem, religious and cultural, of a living community that has always been in symbiosis with the sea, a natural element strongly recalled also by the structure of the church. The original facade of the Chiesa del Soccorso was a very eclectic mix of styles: from Gothic to Renaissance, passing through the richest Baroque. The interior of the church, with a nave with three chapels and a basilica plan, contains several vaults, from barrel to cross vaults. On the left side of the structure there is a small gothic bell tower. Another peculiarity is the "Cristo di Legno".

Spiaggia di Citara

Here we come to the first stop at the "Baia di Citara", here we will serve delicious bruschetta with Ischia tomato and basil accompanied by local wine. There are many legends that make the bay of Citara a fascinating place, and it is even more so to let the legends themselves be, told by the old Forian farmers, of the myths handed down from generation to generation, from distant times. The very name of the locality seems to derive from Venus Citarea and the prodigy who created the bay of Citara and its baths, from the tears shed by the goddess for having lost her beloved Adonis. Another version tells that instead it was Tifeo with his tears who created the flooding of the bay, this time tears of joy for having received the forgiveness of Jupiter. In addition to the marine conformation of the bay, it is said that the Pietra della Nave, is nothing more than a rock, but according to legends, it seems to be the galley with which Ulysses traveled, having received it from Alcinoo, king of the Phaeacians, to return to Ithaca.