Where is Forio located?
The sunny Italian commune of Forio is located in the Campania region, in the province of Naples. The resort is one of six administrative districts of the island of Ischia, along with Casamicciola Terme, Lacco Ameno, Serrara Fontana, Barano, and the town of Ischia itself. Each city is known for its thermal springs, and near Forio are the famous “Poseidon Gardens.”
Forio has a population of about 17,000 people living on an area of 12 km². The locals can be considered truly brave, as they chose to live at the foot of Mount Epomeo — an extinct but still imposing volcano standing 800 meters high.
The national currency is the euro (EUR).
The history of Forio
According to legend, Forio was founded in the 7th century BC, when ancient Greeks settled on Citara Beach and built a temple to Venus Citarea. This place became truly historic, as a peace treaty between Octavian, Marcus Aurelius, and Pompey was signed here. However, over time, the city changed hands many times. In 813 and 847, Forio was completely destroyed by Saracen raids. The invaders later settled here and rebuilt the town, erecting tall watchtowers to hide from future attackers.
Many wanted to control the city: Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Lombards, Aragonese — all ruled the coast at different times. Even the famous pirate Arnaut Barbarossa attacked and looted the island in 1547. After this, residents decided to build the defensive tower Torrione and additional watchtowers in the surrounding area.
The 17th century brought a period of relative calm, allowing Forio to develop trade and economic relations with the Roman state. In 1799, the local population supported the Parthenopean Republic, which later led to persecution by the Bourbons.
Since the 1950s, Forio has been a popular resort among international celebrities. This place is closely connected with figures from the arts, particularly film director Luchino Visconti. In 2004, a museum dedicated to the famous director was opened in his summer residence "La Colombaia."
