In the Island of Ischia, Gulf of Naples, Italy

 “Mist to mist, drops to drops. For water thou art, and unto water shalt thou return.” ― Kamand Kojouri

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(at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, in Italy) The Island of Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, found at the northwest entrance to the Gulf of Naples, about 30 km (~19 mi.) from the city of Naples. The largest of the Phlegrean Islands, it is almost entirely mountainous, the highest peak being Mount Epomeo (an extinct volcano) at 788 meters. An eruption of the 7th century BCE, drove away the first Greek settlers, and another in 470 BCE put a Syracusan garrison to flight. There were several eruptions in Roman times; the last on record occurred in 1301–02, when the population fled to Baia on the mainland and did not return for four years. There have been destructive earthquakes more recently, the last in 1883 when the town of Casamicciola was destroyed. From the Middle Ages the island was subjected to frequent attacks and invasions, usually related to the struggles for supremacy on the mainland. Its volcanic soils are fertile, and the wine (called Epomeo) that is produced on Ischia is famous. Wheat, olive oil, and citrus fruits are also economically important. Well known for its mild climate, picturesque scenery, and numerous thermal mineral springs, Ischia is much frequented as a health and vacation resort. The more important towns are in the north of the island: Ischia, the administrative center and seat of a bishop, consisting of the fishing village of Ischia Ponte with a medieval castle, and Ischia Porto; Casamicciola Terme; Lacco Ameno; and Forio.

+ Ischia, the name of the island's main town, also serves as its largest seaport. Inhabited for centuries, it is known for its beaches and the healing waters of its spas. The town is divided into two parts: Ischia Porto is the harbor district and commercial center of the island, filled with brightly lit taverns and bars, and Ischia Ponte, the historic quarter, with its ancient castle and its stone streets seemingly frozen in time. This is also the case with the Aragonese Castle in Ischia Ponte. Built on a rock in the coastal region, it is one of the most fascinating structures on the island. The fortress is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden with cacti, palm trees, and magnificent olive groves. Today the fortress is privately owned. But in the 12th century many conquerors came here to take and occupy the fortress. In the Middle Ages, the fortress was home to families, priests, princes -- and later, nuns (in 1890).