Fonte delle Ninfe Nitrodi
Barano d'Ischia (NA)
FamousIn the water & diving
The story
A garden of springs where waters once dear to Apollo and the nymphs flow, among olive trees and open-air pools, far from the sound of the sea below.
The story
At Buonopane, in the municipality of Barano, the spring of Nitrodi has flowed since ever, one of the oldest curative waters known. The Greeks dedicated to it a place sacred to the nymphs and to Apollo, and the Romans came here to be healed: this is shown by the votive reliefs found near the spring in 1757 and today kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, twelve marble slabs dedicated to the Nymphs Nitrodi between the first century BC and the third century AD.
What to see
A garden of springs among olive trees and terraces, with showers, basins and jets of warm water flowing from the rock, laid out along paths that recall the 'sacred grove' of the ancients. The water, recommended for the skin and not only, can be gathered and used in the open: it is a wellness ritual that has been repeated here for over two thousand years, in one of the least contaminated corners of the island.
How to get there
- Hydrofoil
- Ferry
Tips
The spring is today an equipped park, with admission and seasonal hours managed by the Municipality of Barano: check openings and arrangements on the official channels before going. It is reached from Buonopane on foot, going down a stretch of steps and path. Bring a container for the water and your swimsuit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Fonte delle Ninfe Nitrodi?
A very ancient thermal spring at Buonopane, in the municipality of Barano d'Ischia, sacred since antiquity to the nymphs and to Apollo; today it is an equipped park with open-air basins and showers.
What are the votive reliefs of Nitrodi?
Twelve marble slabs dedicated to the Nymphs Nitrodi, found near the spring in 1757 and today at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples: they attest to the therapeutic use of the water already in Roman times.
How do you visit the spring?
It is a park with admission and seasonal hours managed by the Municipality of Barano, to be checked on the official channels; you get there on foot from Buonopane along steps and a path.
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