Why Ischia’s Thermal Hot Springs Have Drawn Wellness Travelers for 2,000 Years
Long before “wellness travel” had a name, this volcanic island off the Bay of Naples was already drawing visitors to its natural thermal hot springs through a bathing tradition that continues today.
On Ischia, the water emerges from the ground already hot. Volcanic activity lies beneath the entire island, and its naturally heated waters surface on beaches, in public parks, and at hotels built around these remarkable springs. I visited in late May, a week before a two-week trip through Europe, wanting one real wellness weekend before the pace of everything else took over. I headed to San Montano Resort & Spa, perched on a hilltop above Lacco Ameno, and felt at peace almost immediately.
Across Ischia, more than 100 mineral-rich thermal springs emerge naturally from the island's volcanic landscape, feeding public baths, beaches, historic thermal parks, and luxury resorts that continue a wellness tradition dating back nearly 2,000 years.
San Montano Resort & Spa's panoramic thermal pools overlook Lacco Ameno on Ischia, where naturally heated volcanic waters have attracted wellness travelers for nearly 2,000 years.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
A Hilltop with History
San Montano sits atop Mount Vico on Ischia's northern coast, with sweeping views across the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvius. The resort was originally built in the 1970s and restored in 2008 by the De Siano family, third-generation hoteliers on the island who still run the property today. A major renovation completed in 2025 brought in designers Rino Gambardella and Claudio Pulicati, who drew inspiration from postwar Italian masters like Gio Ponti. The redesign incorporates reclaimed antique majolica tiles repurposed into custom furnishings, natural materials, and an intentional blending of indoor and outdoor spaces that reflects the surrounding landscape. What none of that renovation touched, however, was what lies beneath it. I quickly learned the hilltop predates the hotel by nearly three thousand years.
The resort's highest point sits on the ancient Akropolis of Pithecusae, the earliest known Greek settlement in the western Mediterranean, dating to around 770 BC. The site later served as a naval watchtower during both World Wars. San Montano built its newest and most exclusive accommodation, the Lighthouse Suite, directly into a former military lighthouse on that same spot. This two-bedroom villa features a 968-square-foot glass-enclosed living space known as the Winter Garden, a retractable roof, 360-degree sea views, and a circular bathroom converted from a 1940s military structure, complete with its original portholes.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
Soaking in Ischia's Thermal Hot Springs
The rest of the property is arranged around the same philosophy: build around what is already there. The H2O thermal complex is the heart of the resort, with five panoramic thermal pools fed by Ischia's natural thermal springs. The pools overlook the harbor at Lacco Ameno, with the island of Procida and the wider Bay of Naples stretching beyond. The views are spectacular throughout the day, from the soft morning light to sunset over the Bay of Naples.
Aenaria, the resort's main thermal pool, naturally becomes the social hub of the property, thanks to its waterfall, whirlpool jets, and expansive sun terrace. The water remains pleasantly warm (89–95°F / 32–35°C), making it an easy place to linger.
A few steps below the pool bar is Sea Breeze, a slightly cooler pool and Jacuzzi (around 75 to 80°F / 24 to 27°C), tucked into the rock and oriented directly toward San Montano Bay. This is the place to watch the sunset. Moving from a warm pool to a cooler one before stepping into the grotto sauna creates a bathing ritual rooted in traditions that date back to Roman times.
Beyond the thermal complex, there's a separate saltwater pool near the beach, while many of the resort's suites feature their own private pools, from the infinity pool at the Amalfi Sunrise Suite overlooking the Gulf of Naples to the plunge pool tucked into the Lighthouse Suite's private garden.
A Spa Made for Relaxation
Ocean Blue Spa overlooks the sea, and its treatment rooms face directly toward the water. The Wet Spa is included with every stay, and there is no time limit. Guests can enjoy a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, experience showers, and a Kneipp pool, dropping in for twenty minutes between pool sessions instead of committing to an entire afternoon.
If you're booking one signature treatment, choose Lemontano. The massage takes place in the resort's citrus grove beneath fragrant lemon trees with views across the Gulf of Naples. The experience concludes with a dip in a private pool and a glass of freshly made lemonade crafted from fruit picked just steps away.
Olea Breeze is another standout treatment, combining a full-body and scalp peel, a candlelit massage infused with Ischian botanical essences, and a face mask made from local plant oils.
The spa menu extends well beyond these two signature offerings. Guests can choose thermal mud treatments sourced from the same volcanic waters that feed the pools, facials featuring citrus and enzyme-rich local fruits, and body treatments inspired by native floral essences. Fitness receives equal attention, with a two-level Technogym-equipped fitness center as well as an outdoor workout area surrounded by lemon trees and aromatic herbs. Personal trainers and yoga classes are also available.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
Rooms with a View
San Montano offers 65 rooms and suites across a variety of accommodations, and nearly every category is designed to showcase the spectacular views. Among the standout accommodations are the Amalfi Sunrise Suite with its infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Naples, the Ischia Sunset Suite with its private Jacuzzi and panoramic terrace, and the Lighthouse Suite, perched atop the ancient Akropolis for what feels like a private retreat above the sea.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
Delicious Dining
I ate at Franco's, the resort's signature restaurant, on a terrace overlooking the same coastline visible from the thermal pools below. The menu is simple, seasonal, and centered around ingredients sourced from Ischia, and it was among the best meals I enjoyed during my two weeks in Europe.
The resort also offers La Veranda, Acropoli Pizza & Bar for casual poolside dining, and a sunset piano bar in the evenings, creating a dining experience that feels varied from morning through night.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
Final Thoughts
Ischia has no shortage of thermal spa hotels, and I'd researched many of them before arriving on the island. What made San Montano different was the way the entire property encourages guests to experience it: moving from pool to pool, temperature to temperature, all while surrounded by nearly three thousand years of history.
I arrived hoping for a restorative wellness weekend before a longer European trip. I left with a much deeper appreciation for why Ischia's thermal bathing tradition has endured for so long—and every reason to return to Ischia on my next trip to Italy.
For travelers interested in wellness travel, Ischia offers something increasingly rare: a centuries-old tradition that continues to help visitors slow down, restore, and reconnect long before wellness became a global travel trend.
Photo Credit: San Montano + Serena Eller
Know Before You Go
Location: Ischia, Italy
Getting There: Fly into Naples International Airport, then take a ferry or hydrofoil to Ischia (approximately one hour).
Opened: Originally built in the 1970s; restored in 2008; renovated in 2025.
Best Season to Visit: May, June, September, and early to mid-October.
Approximate Price Range: Varies by season.
Ideal For: Couples, wellness travelers, spa enthusiasts, and travelers interested in Italy's thermal hot springs.
Don't Miss: The Aenaria-to-Sea Breeze thermal bathing sequence, sunset at Sea Breeze, and the Lemontano massage.
Learn More: sanmontano.com
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About the Author
Lauren Harano is a freelance travel journalist specializing in luxury travel, wellness, and lifestyle. Visit her website for more of her work.