Castello Aragonese, Ischia Ponte
Well, I think I've narrowed down one of my most favorite places ever - to a small(ish) island in the Bay of Naples. Ischia
had always enticed me, (yes yes, I will say that my obsession with the film "The Talented Mr. Ripley" initially had a little bit to do with that), but after getting to visit this amazing island I can say that it now entices me even more since experiencing it firsthand. One day when my husband and I were vacationing and exploring the various villages, I found a partially abandoned building overlooking the ocean and tucked it away in the "maybe-one-day-I-can-make-that-a-yoga-studio-and-live-here-part-time" file in my mind. Who knows....maybe, just maybe...
view back over island from the Castello
There's something magical about this place for me - not only for the pre-Roman history, lush landscapes, natural thermal spas, small castles in the sea, or the dormant volcano which the whole of Ischia rests - but it largely has to do with the pure kindness of so many people there with whom we've come in contact. Plus, since it's a bit more off the grid than at least the main stops like Rome, Florence, and Venice, it feels a bit more authentic Italian and less touristy. Patience towards visitors is something we observed as well. This combined with the amazing hospitality we encountered and the breath-taking beauty of the island, it's easy to see why it's a place I've wanted to return.
Between the two upcoming EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga retreats this summer in Tuscany, I had one week completely free to travel, so during that time I'm headed back to Ischia to explore even more of the island - plus scout out some locations and details for the retreat I just announced today, taking place in, none other than ISCHIA!
The retreat will be at Villa Lina which overlooks the Mediterranean from the western coast of the island, I'm so excited to share all the things I love about this place with the guests. We'll be taking day trips to thermal spas, hiking up to Mount Epomeo for views over the entire bay, visiting famous gardens, and lounging at the beach. Plus enjoying daily yoga classes at the yoga space overlooking the sea. I can't wait!
CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS OF THE ISCHIA RETREAT HERE
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