BOSCO DELLA MADDALENA TO CRETAIO
BOSCO DELLA MADDALENA TO CRETAIO
Photos, description and directions to the Bosco Maddalena to Cretaio walk in Casamicciola.
The walk into the “Bosco della Maddalena” (Maddalena wood) is an interesting walk in the shade of a quiet and verdant forest, along the different craters of the volcanoes of the island. The forest itself rises up on a area called “Cretaio” (also called Monte Rotaro),with rich volcanic soil of ancient geological formation. The word “Cretaio” itself is a combination of the word “cratere” (crater) and “creta” (clay), an element of which this volcanic area is rich in.
With a great variety of plants and trees such as pines, chestnuts, ferns and oaks, the Bosco della Maddalena represents the largest forest on the island, around 450,000 square metres expanding above Casamicciola and then connecting to the pine forest in Fiaiano. The area is also rich in springs and hot fumaroles, a special environmental habitat for a rare tropical plant called “Cyperus Polystachius” also known as papyrus.
The walk starts in the town of Casamicciola from the main road SS270. Coming from Ischia Porto, about 100 meters after Castiglione Thermal Park, on the left you will notice a side road that leads to Hotel Grifo. Take this road until you find yourself at a crossroad with an arrow pointing towards Hotel Grifo to the right. Take the road on the left and soon you will find the starting point with a map of the area and some large stone steps climbing up into the woods.
At the beginning, the walk is quite intense and steep but after climbing the steps the path is pretty much flat and in shade. Several benches are allocated around the wood for those who need to have a rest.
We recommend taking the walk on the highest part of the wood to reach the crater “Fondo d’Oglio”, which is about 300m above sea level, and to walk along the perimeter of the crater. The bottom of the crater is not visible as it's completely covered by trees but the feeling of walking on the actual crater of the island is a unique experience.
At some point along the walk you can spot the amazing view down to Ischia Porto, the islands of Procida and Vivara as well as Naples and Mount Vesuvius on the horizon.
You can finish the walk at 2 different points: returning at the starting point near Grifo hotel, or from the crater Fondo d’Oglio taking the road down to Casamicciola centre.
Level of difficulty: Medium-high ****
Duration: 4 hours
Silvana Coppa
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