As we began our fourth day in Ischia, we noticed a sculpture of a sunbather, on a patch of grass, alongside the road.

The Hotel Villa Maria is a three-star hotel, set in a liberty-style building that dates from the 1920s.

The poster below is advertising a drink called <em>Rucolino</em>, a delicious local <em>digestivo</em>, similar to an <em>Amaro. </em> It is made with the wild arugula that grows on the island.  We ended up buying three bottles of it and, of course, only two of the bottles made their way back home with us!

As we walked along the waterfront, past the many restaurants and cafés that line the beach area, we could smell the food cooking for the midday meal service.  There is nothing like the smell of fried fish to get one’s appetite going, and so, we decided to stop at one of the places on the beach, and have some lunch.

When we initially sat down at the table, overlooking the beach, we thought we would have a very light meal: Some mussels and a salad, along with a glass or two of wine.  However, the food was so good that we found ourselves ordering grilled calamari, and fried fish as well.  We could not stop ourselves!

We timed our lunch perfectly, as we were able to avoid the rain that blew over the island.  By the time we were finished with our meal, the day was a pleasant one, once again, and we could continue to stroll around.

 

Next up: We continue to explore Ischia, and then, have dinner by the port!

 

<em>Note: This blog is written in English, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Ischia, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!</em>