The small island of Ischia, 17.9 square miles to be exact, lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about 19 miles from the city of Naples. For those who long for a natural green Greek island, covered in trees, vines and exotic plants, the largest of the Phlegrean Islands may be the perfect Italian alternative.

With Mount Vesuvius visible in the background, Ischia too is a volcanic island, with bubbling thermal waters beneath its surface. In Sorgeto cave, found in a bay of the same name, hot springs spray water into the air, while at San Montano bay one can relax in one of the 29 thermal pools dotted amid greenery and across the cliffside.