The construction of the Bourbon harbour provoked a strong rising of the economic activities: new roads and new buildings were built on the whole area between the harbour and the historic centre of Ischia Ponte, till then mostly occupied by large and luxuriant pinewoods.

At the beginning of the 20th century Ischia became the preferred resort by Neapolitan middle classes for their summer vacations: they take for rent a house from the inhabitants in the new centre near the harbour and by a short walk they came to the large beach of Villa de' Bagni (Swimming Villa). Thermal baths, seaside and pinewoods: a wonderful combination for health and for the touristic development.

The new centre of Ischia developed around the axis of Corso Vittoria Colonna, the main street for the evening stroll and center of the worldy life of the island, who runs parallel to the waterfront of Villa de' Bagni (between Punta San Pietro near the port and Punta Molina) and then of Spiaggia dei Pescatori (Fishermen's Beach, between Punta Molina and Sant'Antonio near Ischia Ponte).

From the harbour you reach the promenade through Piazza Antica Reggia and Via Roma (Rome Street) where are concentrated boutiques and stores for the shopping and the entartainment of island's guests. At night these streets get busy and give an unforgettable impression to enjoy a collective festivity, a great sole party under the stars.

In front of the harbour there is the church of Santa Maria di Porto Salvo (Our Lady of Safe Harbour), also built by Ferdinand the Bourbon, in order to provide the harbour with its own religious center.

At a few distance from the port there is a Funicular leading to the top of the hill called Montagnone (Big Mountain) where is a lookout terrace from which you can look over the whole centre of Ischia Porto, with Procida and the Phlaegrean Fields on the background.