Myths and legends accompany the history of the island of Ischia. The Greeks, then the Romans and even kings and queens were struck by the charm of the green island living it over the centuries and giving it incredible pages of stories.
Since 3500 B.C. there are testimonies of populations that inhabited the island.

The archaeologist Buchner, in 1940, discovered a group of tombs at the foot of Mount Vico that were part of a necropolis containing a thousand burials dating back to the eighth and seventh centuries. Chalkidians, Eritreans and the Phoenicians were the first to occupy the island. The Chalcis, at first, inhabited the western part of the island later there was a new settlement towards Ischia Ponte named Aenaria. We are in the first century and the news is scarce, probably because because of a bradisism the city was destroyed and submerged.

Recently, however, thanks to the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Naples, a group of divers and archaeologists is bringing to light that now submerged city, thus writing a new page of history.

In the fifth century Ischia suffered the occupation of the Cumans who, after defeating the Etruscans, with the support of the Syracusans, ceded Ischia to Gerone the tyrant of Syracuse. On the island was born a Sicilian colony and was built the Aragonese Castle, considered the first nucleus of defense.

Around '82, Ischia passed from the control of Naples to that of Rome. But soon, at Giulia’s whim, it was traded for the island of Capri.
Since then Ischia suffered the political history of Naples, but suffered numerous and violent German raids and then be invaded by the Angevins and the Aragonese. Many Ischians lost their lives.

Later, Alfonso of Aragon, fascinated by the island, wanted to give the castle to Lucrezia D'Alagno as a token of love. Ferdinand the Catholic, as prize of war, donated the whole island to Constance D'Avalos for having defended it with force against the French.
There followed a period of tranquility during which Ferrante d'Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, celebrated his wedding with the poet Vittoria Colonna.

Soon, however, peace was interrupted, the enemies from which to defend themselves were now pirates.
Several towers were erected on the island, 16 only to Forio called since then the turreted city. It was from these towers that pirates' ships were sighted; the sound of the bells announced their approach and allowed the islanders to get safe, some on the castle, some in the bell towers of the Churches, some still on the Epomeo.

Later the Bourbons arrived in Ischia; Ferdinand II chose the island as his summer residence and built the Royal Palace transforming the ancient lake in the port of Ischia.

Ischia has its page of history also during the wars of independence, when illustrious men like Silvio Spaventa or Carlo Poerio were imprisoned in the Castle.

Tangible signs of the various dominations are still present in the six municipalities of the island, from the city - submerged museum of Aenaria to the Castle, until passing through the Port that was once a lake. On August 26, then, the most illustrious characters of history parade through the streets of the town of Ischia during the famous parade of Sant'Alessandro, a dip in the oldest history of your island.