Barano d'Ischia, an ancient municipality on the island of Ischia

About this activity

Barano d’Ischia, il cui nome risale probabilmente già al 1374, è un’antico comune dell’isola d’Ischia.

Located in the southwestern part of the island, this place was settled by the Greeks at the Source of the Nitrodi Nymphs, a nymphaeum, a sacred building dedicated to a nymph, in which ancient artifacts consisting of bas-reliefs marble inscriptions, coins from the Roman Empire, and shards of everyday utensils were found.

Initially the municipality was called just Barano, then in 1862 the name was changed to Barano d'Ischia. Several localities comprise it: Vatoliere, Piedimonte, Fiaiano, Testaccio, Maronti and Buonopane.

L’ingresso a Barano d’Ischia è segnato dall’antico Acquedotto Romano Pilastri.

Why visit Barano d'Ischia

Each locality in this wonderful municipality has its own uniqueness.

Buonopane is famous for its healing waters from the Nitrodi spring and the Village of Testaccio from 1806 to 1879 it was the seventh municipality on the island. This seaside village boasts many natural beauty spots including the Trail of the Bays, one of the four hiking trails in Barano d'Ischia, so called because from the top you can see the inlets of the Maronti and San Pancrazio.

Barano d’Ischia è stato nel corso dei secoli meta di personalità importanti venute qui per curarsi nel celebre sudatorio, come il vescovo irlandese George Berkley e il conte Giorgio Corafà. Si tratta di una casa abbandonata in cui all’interno c’è una stufa dalle proprietà curative. Da qui è cominciata la rinascita turistica di Barano d’Ischia.

Also in the Testaccio locality we find the Saracen Tower overlooking Maronti Bay and from Mar del Plata Square it is possible to walk along the Trail of the Bays on Mount Cotto or for the more religious, visit the Church of San Giorgio, whose worship is very much felt in Barano d'Ischia.

Another noteworthy location is Fiaiano with its pine forest, originated on the mouth of the crater born from the so-called Colata dell'Arso that reached the beach between the Port of Ischia and Ischia Ponte and destroyed the ancient urban center of Geronda.

Maronti beach

La spiaggia dei Maronti secondo molti è la più bella dell’isola d’Ischia. Questa spiaggia è l’unica del comune di Barano ma la più estesa di tutta l’isola, incastonata in uno spettacolare intreccio di mare e monti.

In the 16th century it was chosen by the Saracens as a landing point on the island, in fact the citizens erected watchtowers in the village of Sant'Angelo and in Testaccio.

The last stretch of this wonderful beach is characterized by thermal water that is maintained at very high temperatures all the way to the shoreline, here in fact is the extension of the spring of Nitrodi in Buonopane, the source of Olmitello. In some parts of the beach there are characteristic fumaroles that reach very high temperatures.

From Maronti Beach, it is also possible to reach the spring of Cavascura, a natural basin carved out of stone that offers a picturesque play of colors as you enter the spa hall.

Maronti Beach is equipped for sports activities and there are many spas and restaurants.

Curiosities about Barano d'Ischia

In occasione di Pasquetta, a Buonopane viene recitata la ‘ndrezzata, letteralmente intrecciata, un canto rituale con spade e bastoni detti mazzarielli. L’origine di questo particolare canto non è chiara, si dice che sia nato nel medioevo oppure che le sue origini siano legate alla mitologia greca.

The legend of the 'ndrezzata

Apparently, the dance was practiced by nymphs to the rhythm of wooden swords. Apollo, plucking the zither, fell in love with the nymph Coronid And from their love was born Aesculapius. The Greek god, in love with the nymph, granted the Nitrodi spring where the dances took place, the property of offering beauty and healing.

The love was short-lived as Coronides fell in love with the faun Ischi, then Apollo seized with jealousy threw the nymph into the sea, unleashing the wrath of his son Aesculapius, who took revenge by dissolving exotic herbs in the spring that made anyone who drank there quarrelsome and jealous.

Before returning to their world, the Nymphs wanted to infuse the locals with the rhythm of the 'ndrezzata as a gift. The inhabitants of Barano, who drank from the Nitrodi spring, lived in constant quarrel with the hamlet of Buonopane until 1540.

One day a maiden lost a coral belt given to her by her fiancé, later found by a young man from Buonopane. The boy refused to give it back to the owner, and another war ensued, culminating at the Buonopane bridge where the two factions finally decided to seal peace at the foot of the statue of the Our Lady of the Gate.

On Easter Monday the two parties gathered burned the belt in front of St. John's Church. The peace made was then celebrated by dancing a 'ndrezzata.

Since then, the dance has been danced every year on Easter Monday and during St. John's Day celebrations on June 24.