Forio is the widest municipality in Ischia and occupies the whole westerly side of the island. Initially it was not much frequented by the thermal tourism and it developed mainly as a center of production and commerce of agricultural products. Even the abundant fountains of Citara, which are nowadays among the most appreciated thermal basins in the island, were once only used for irrigating the cultivated fields, which gave a plentyful production of wine, lemons and oranges, thanks to the fertile volcanic ground and to mineral contents of the water.

Nevertheless Forio was not excluded by the first tourist flows, but it was much visited: the Bourbon road joined it to Ischia Ponte (passing through Ischia Harbour, Casamicciola and Lacco) and one of the preferred pastimes of tourists was the excursion by hansom cab to Forio, in order to watch a magical sunset from the courtyard of the Church of Our Lady of Aid, with the sun falling in the sea and the whole horizon filled with fire red. For that time tourists, not inclined to venture along the uncomfortable mountain paths of the Epomeo in order to discover the southern side of the island, Forio constituted the extreme limit of Ischia island.

For its genuine character of village untouched by luxury and weakness of high society on vacation, but fully aimed instead to fight against elements to defend the wealth produced by farm labour and by commerce (in fact the westerly side of Ischia is the most beaten by the wind and the sea), Forio has always exerted a great fascination on artists and intellectuals, becoming the aggregation point for cultural tourism on the island. During the 2nd half of 20th century also Forio has been concerned with the tourist transformation of Ischia and bridged soon the gap with other resorts, traditionally much frequented, and has become one of the most appreciated resort also for thermal baths and tourist accommodation.

The most representative element in Forio is certainly the church of Santa Maria del Soccorso (Our Lady of Aid), built in the 16th century on the promontory delimiting on South the wide bay with the long beaches of Chiaia and San Francesco (St.Francis). Enlarged during the 18th century, it mixes different styles into an eclectic Mediterranean shape. The parapets of the church courtyard are decorated with majolica showing scenes of martyrdom of Saints and from the Passion. In the interiors there are a wooden crucifix wich is difficult to date (the tradition says it was carried by a sea tempest upon the shore right under the church) and a collection of votive offerings by sailors who escaped the storms thanks to Mary's interventions.  [ More...]