The municipality in the north of the island covers an area of about 5,6 square kilometres. About 7,000 residents live here. Casamicciola is famous for its thermal waters and excellent spas. Giuseppe Garibaldi came here to cure his wounds, but also the poet Henrik Ibsen spent some time in the hills of the borough. Today the municipality hosts the second main port of the island, which is a valid alternative to the port of Ischia, and important schools. The lovely Piazza Marina opposite the port is the lively meeting point of the locals who take their coffee in the Bar on the square to discuss the day’s events. The villages in the hills, Maio, Sentinella and Bagni, are quiet. Some of the old buildings that were damaged by the earthquake in 1883 can still be seen, creating an atmosphere of melancholy.

THE PLACE
Casamicciola unites sea and hills, offering a long sea front promenade. The quayside of the port where the private boats are anchored also invites for a relaxing stroll. Over the coast green hills, some of them of volcanic origins, are an impressive sight from the sea.

SPECIAL BECAUSE…
A municipality that needs to be discovered slowly. Starting from the central Piazza Marina a walk along narrow winding lanes leads through the smaller villages in the hills with their historical buildings to the rural part of Casamicciola with lovely views or to the old volcano of Cretaio. Casamicciola offers a peaceful atmosphere and spas that cure many ills.

PLACES TO VISIT

PIAZZA MARINA
This square opposite the port has been closed for car traffic only recently; it is the economic and social centre of the borough. Meeting point for locals and tourists, it also recalls history with a statue of King Victor Emanuel II, a Monument to the Fallen and a plaque to the Norwegian poet Henrik Ibsen who wrote parts of his Peer Gynt here.

PIAZZA BAGNI
The shady square in the hills is home of numerous excellent spas thanks to the nearby hot spring of Gurgitello. At the hotel Manzi one can still see the tub where Giuseppe Garibaldi took his treatments. In via Ombrasco there is also a small chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DELLA PIETA
Built in the late 19th century, the church contains numerous interesting works of art: the high altar from the 17th century, over it an important canvas by Vaccare. Canvases showing the seven sufferings of Mary. Statues of Saints and of Mary in the sacristy.

GEOPHYSICS OBSERVATORY – Village of Sentinella
The first geophysics institution was created in the late 19th century by father Denza who used some rooms in his parish church in piazza Maio. Today’s Geophysics Observatory in Sentinella,  meant to deal with volcanology, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, seismology, and geodesy, was opened by Giulio Grablovitz in 1902. Although the work of the institute is important in an area dominated by bradysism and volcanic activities, the government did little to back it. Only in 1940 the State refitted the Observatory. Despite the efforts of various committees it is still not used to its full capacity, and has become instead a kind of archival library about the island’s climate.
Visit to the Observatory is possible on appointment. One can see, among others, instruments for the measuring of earthquake including a seismic “bath” created by Grablovitz in the 19th century.