The beach of Maronti in Barano set of "My brilliant friend" and "The story of a new name" by Elena Ferrante
Ischia has been, for centuries, a home for many types of artists like painters, sculptors, musicians, poets and writers, who have found inspiration for their stories on this beautiful island.
Truman Capote, Tennesse Williams, Pablo Neruda, W.H.Auden are just some of the authors who spent an important time of their lives in Ischia, enjoying its natural beauty and charm, and celebrating it in their works.
In the last few years, the name of Elena Ferrante has gained international attention thanks to the series of books called “Neapolitan Novels”. The island of Ischia is often mentioned in the first 2 novels of the saga (“My Brilliant Friend” and “The Story of a New Name”) and these tours will help you discover the places in Ischia where the lives of Lila, Lenù, Nino and Donato Sarratore are intertwined and changed forever. If you are struck with the “Ferrante Fever” like me, don’t miss the opportunity to take one of these tours!
Elena Ferrante’s tours in Ischia
Tour 16 – Basic 3 and a half hour Elena Ferrante Ischia tour
The tour starts from your hotel in Ischia or from Ischia Port if you are visiting the island for the day from the mainland. We drive through the town of Casamicciola Terme ( mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”) and stop for photographs in Lacco Ameno and in Forio (where we visit Soccorso’s Church mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”), Citara’s Beach and Cuotto village (mentioned in “The story of a New Name”) and take a walk in the beautiful village of Sant’Angelo. In the second part of the tour we drive inland and stop for photographs in Serrara Fontana at the foot of Mount Epomeo (mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”), Barano and Maronti Beach ( mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”). Last stop for photographs will be near the iconic Castle Aragonese and Ischia Ponte village. The tour ends back in Ischia Porto where I will be happy to recommend several traditional restaurants for lunch (lunch not included in the rate of the tour).
Tour 17 – 6 hour Elena Ferrante Ischia tour including a stop for lunch in a traditional Ischian restaurant
The tour starts from your hotel in Ischia or from Ischia Porto if you are visiting the island for the day from the mainland. We pass through Casamicciola Terme ( mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”) and stop for photographs in Lacco Ameno, Santa Maria del Soccorso Church in Forio (mentioned in “The story of a New Name”), Citara’s Beach and Cuotto village (mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”) and take a walk in the beautiful village of Sant’Angelo. We stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant by the sea in Sant’Angelo where you can enjoy a delicious fresh sea food/fish meal (lunch not included in the rate, different menus available). In the second part of the tour we drive inland with stops for photographs in Serrara Fontana at the foot of Mount Epomeo (mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”), Barano and Maronti Beach ( mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”). Last stop for photographs will be near the iconic Castle Aragonese and Ischia Ponte village. The tour ends back at your hotel or in Ischia Port in time for your departure.
Tour 18 – 7 and a half hour Elena Ferrante Ischia tour including a stop to visit the Castle Aragonese and to lunch in a traditional Ischian restaurant
The tour starts from your hotel on the island or from Ischia Porto, if you are visiting Ischia for the day from the mainland. We first stop in the village of Ischia Ponte for a walk and for a visit to the Castle Aragonese, where you can wander around on your own for about 2 hours (the entrance fee to the castle is not included in the price of the tour). We then take our taxi and drive through Casamicciola Terme (mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”) and stop for photographs in Lacco Ameno, in Forio (to see the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”). In Forio Port, we stop at a local restaurant for a traditional Ischian meal of fish/sea food, pizza or the famous Ischian rabbit stew (lunch not included in the price of the tour). After lunch, we drive towards Citara’s Beach and Cuotto village (mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”) and take a walk in the beautiful village of Sant’Angelo. In the second part of the tour we drive inland, with stops for photographs in Serrara Fontana at the foot of Mount Epomeo (mentioned in “The Story of a New Name”), Barano and Maronti Beach (mentioned in “My Brilliant Friend”). The tour ends back at your hotel or in Ischia Port, in time for your departure in the late afternoon.
All tours include micro taxi/regular taxi, driver and English speaking licensed guide on board. The itinerary of the tours may change due to unforseen factors such as weather or traffic. The price of the tours doesn’t include lunch, drinks or entrance fees where applicable. Official tour guides are the only people authorized by the Italian government who are allowed to run tours legally after passing the regional exam and are then licensed as professional tour guides.
For more details and information about tours in Ischia contact me at info@ischiaguidedtours.com