LACCO AMENO
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Latest page update: 10 January 2025
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By: Dion Protani
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Lacco Ameno is the smallest of Ischia's six main towns (each known as "comune") but without doubt, one of the prettiest.
Located towards the north-west corner of the island it enjoys some stunning seaside scenery as well as two sandy beaches. The most popular beach in Lacco Ameno is San Montano with it's natural enclosure, flanked by two hills creating a little bay with shallow water, great for having a paddle or a refreshing swim. Alongside San Montano Beach is one of Ischia's main attractions, Negombo Thermal Gardens. |
Lacco Ameno
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Comune di Lacco Ameno
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Province: Metropolitan City of Naples
Region: Campania Population: 4,520 (in 2024 - source) Size: 2 km² Highlights: Negombo Thermal Gardens, San Montano Beach |
Negombo is a thermal water park with twelve different pools of varying temperatures, including natural saunas which have been cut out of the rocks overlooking the bay to create a wonderful environment where visitors can admire the views while relaxing in the warm, healing waters.
San Montano and Negombo are just a five minute walk from the town centre which has a good number of shops, bars and restaurants as well as another beach, Il Fungo Beach. Italian speakers will recognise the word "Fungo" which means mushroom in English and the beach is named after the mushroom-shaped rock that sits in front of it.
Lacco Ameno also has a pretty marina which attracts a range of craft from small fishing boats right up to mega-yachts with their VIPs who moor up in the town to enjoy the atmosphere, grab an ice-cream at one of the beach-side bars, enjoy some shopping or to eat at one of the harbour-side restaurants.
Despite being a very small town, Lacco Ameno is home to four different five star hotels including the elegant Albergo della Regina. Famous for being one of the first hotels on the island, Albergo della Regina Isabella was created by Italian film producer Angelo Rizzoli who to many people is and was the father of tourism on the island for it was he who helped build a lot of the island's infrastructure which is still in place to this day.
San Montano and Negombo are just a five minute walk from the town centre which has a good number of shops, bars and restaurants as well as another beach, Il Fungo Beach. Italian speakers will recognise the word "Fungo" which means mushroom in English and the beach is named after the mushroom-shaped rock that sits in front of it.
Lacco Ameno also has a pretty marina which attracts a range of craft from small fishing boats right up to mega-yachts with their VIPs who moor up in the town to enjoy the atmosphere, grab an ice-cream at one of the beach-side bars, enjoy some shopping or to eat at one of the harbour-side restaurants.
Despite being a very small town, Lacco Ameno is home to four different five star hotels including the elegant Albergo della Regina. Famous for being one of the first hotels on the island, Albergo della Regina Isabella was created by Italian film producer Angelo Rizzoli who to many people is and was the father of tourism on the island for it was he who helped build a lot of the island's infrastructure which is still in place to this day.
LACCO AMENO Gallery
Rizzoli used to have a home in the town, the Villa Arbusto Museum which you can now visit to see a combination of souvenirs from his life there full of fascinating photos of movie stars, but also to trace back to the time when the island was very first settled by the Greeks. Exhibits on display at the museum include "Nestor's Cup", a tiny Greek urn which is said to contain one of the very first examples of written Greek poetry. More evidence of Ischia's history can be found at the town's other museum, the Santa Restituta Museum which includes a fascinating underground village which depicts life on the island from 2000 years ago.
During July each year the town becomes full of glitz and glamour as the island plays host to the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest, one of two film festivals that take place in Ischia each year, the other being the Ischia Film Festival which finishes just a few days before Ischia Global starts. While the festival is on there are free film screenings in the town's main square Piazza Santa Restituta, as well as VIP parties that spring up all over the island, a great time to do a bit of celebrity spotting!
The aforementioned piazza is named after the town's patron Saint, Santa Restituta who is honoured each year with a week-long celebration that includes market stalls, funfairs, fireworks and the main event, the re-enactment of Santa Restituta's story which is played out to dramatic effect on San Montano Beach. The Festa di Santa Restituta event will take place between the dates of 16th - 19th May.
During July each year the town becomes full of glitz and glamour as the island plays host to the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest, one of two film festivals that take place in Ischia each year, the other being the Ischia Film Festival which finishes just a few days before Ischia Global starts. While the festival is on there are free film screenings in the town's main square Piazza Santa Restituta, as well as VIP parties that spring up all over the island, a great time to do a bit of celebrity spotting!
The aforementioned piazza is named after the town's patron Saint, Santa Restituta who is honoured each year with a week-long celebration that includes market stalls, funfairs, fireworks and the main event, the re-enactment of Santa Restituta's story which is played out to dramatic effect on San Montano Beach. The Festa di Santa Restituta event will take place between the dates of 16th - 19th May.
