Casamicciola Terme is the town located in the middle of the northern side of Ischia island, between the towns of Ischia and Lacco Ameno. The tradition says that the name comes from "Casa Nizola" (Nizola's House) a Roman matron who could not walk anymore and who recovered by dipping her legs into the warm water of a stream flowing near her house. That stream has been located in the fountain of Gurgitello, the most plentiful thermal basin in the island. This legend has been represented also in the banner of the municipality of Casamicciola (showing a lady with her legs into water) which in the 1956 added to its name the qualification of "Terme" (Thermal) to emphasize its thermal vocation.

The development of Casamicciola began in the 17th century, when on the funtain of Gurgitello it had been built the thermal complex of Pio Monte della Misericordia of Naples, divided into two sections: one for religious and the other for the laymen. It had been enlarged several times and in the 19th century it hosted up to 2,000 people per season, an extraordinary amount for that time, when tourism and travelling were reserved to few lucky people. Nearby, around the Piazza Bagni (Baths' Square), they rouse during the 2nd half of 19th century several other thermal establishments, which made Casamicciola the most renown and appreciated thermal resort in Europe: here came Kings and Princes, noblemen and notables, artists and writers.

At those times the sand shore of Casamicciola, used as landing shore for boats, was not inhabited. The small town developed around Piazza Maio (Maio Square) but the house were mostly spread on the hills all around, especially on La Sentinella (the Sentry), where the noble villas were soon turned in luxury hotels to host the eminent guests. That Golden Age for Casamicciola was unfortunately and suddenly interrupted in the night on July 28th 1883, when a tremendous earthquake with its epicentre right under Casamicciola destroyed completely the whole town with its villas, its hotels and the thermal establishments.

The reconstruction after the earthquake was fast and the thermal establishments were all fully restored, but the consternation around the high society was strong and Casamicciola were left out of the international circles of elite tourism. The reconstruction privileged the coastline, creating the new centre around Piazza Marina (Marina Square) in front of which it had been built also the haarbour in the Twenties of 20th century. However Casamicciola has continued to be a frequented and appreciated thermal resort: its water was even sold in barrels, carried by ship to Naples.  [ More...]