Monte Epomeo
Ischia
KnownVolcanoes
The story
The roof of the island at almost eight hundred metres: from the green tufo summit, with its hermitage carved into the rock, the eye takes in all of Ischia and the bay as far as Capri.
Access
trails FREE
The story
Monte Epomeo, at 789 metres, is the highest peak of Ischia: not a classic volcano but a great block of green tuff lifted by the forces of the subsoil. On the summit, carved into the rock, are a small church dedicated to San Nicola (of 1459), once a hermitage, and an ancient inn in the tuff.
What to see
The climb leads to a panorama that on clear days takes in half of Campania: Vesuvius, Capri, the Sorrento peninsula, Naples and the Campi Flegrei, as far as the islands of Ponza and Ventotene. On the summit, the carved rock of the hermitage of San Nicola.
How to get there
- Hydrofoil
- Ferry
Tips
It is an excursion of medium difficulty: from the village of Fontana you climb in about an hour, first on road and cultivated terraces, then along a path carved into the tuff. Trekking shoes, water and a hat; avoid the hottest hours and rainy days, when the rock becomes slippery. Go on a clear day for the view.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Monte Epomeo?
789 metres: it is the highest peak of the island of Ischia.
What is the climb up Monte Epomeo like?
An excursion of medium difficulty, about an hour from the village of Fontana, partly on a path carved into the tuff; trekking shoes and water are needed.
What is on the summit of Epomeo?
A small church carved into the rock dedicated to San Nicola (1459), once a hermitage, and a very wide panorama over the gulf and beyond.
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When the cathedral on the Castello was destroyed by English cannon fire in 1809, the bishops moved down to the valley and built a new one at the foot of the bridge. Beneath the present church survives the medieval crypt with frescoes of the Giottesque school.
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- Views & panoramas
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