It is not hard to understand why, as far back as three thousand years ago—give or take a century—Ischia captivated and drew to itself sailors and settlers from other lands: through their presence, they helped shape the island’s character, enriching it with precious vestiges of their civilizations. The Greeks, wise and lovers of beauty, founded their first settlement in Italy on Ischia (which they called Pithecusa) in the 8th century B.C., taking advantage of the fertility of the volcanic soil and the natural springs. Thus began the colonization of Magna Graecia. In Roman times, the island became a favored retreat for patricians, politicians, and intellectuals, who chose it for its mild climate and the healing properties of its waters. In the Middle Ages, while fortifications transformed Ischia into a strategic stronghold for controlling the Gulf of Naples, small fishing and farming villages developed along the coast. And centuries later, between the 19th and 20th centuries, the island once again became a favorite destination for European aristocrats, artists, and travelers, captivated by that spontaneous and luminous elegance that still makes it unique in the Mediterranean today.