Itinerary
Villa Arbusto and its Museum Complex
Corso Angelo Rizzoli - Lacco Ameno
Opening hours
_Winter schedule :
From 23 April to 31 May and from 1 October to 2 November 9.30-13.00 / 15.00-18.30
_Summer schedule :
From 1 June to 30 September 9.30-13.00 / 16.00-19.30
Closed on Mondays
Information and reservations: tel/fax +39 081 3330288 / +39 081 996103
Arbusto hill was purchased in 1785 by the Duke of Atri, Carlo d'Acquaviva, who had two villas with magnificent loggias,
an extensive terraced garden, steam room and a chapel built there. Today it is an important museum complex that includes the Pithecusae Archaeological Museum, the Angelo Rizzoli Museum and the Cetacean Section of the island of Ischia.
Pithecusae Archaeological Museum
The museum has seven exhibition halls dedicated to the various historical eras of the Island of Ischia – from pre-historical times, through the Greek Pithecusae period to the Roman Aenaria era. The items preserved in the museum's display cases come from the San Montano valley and include precious geometrical vases, among which is the Cratere, known as the "of the shipwreck" (from the scene depicted on it) and the famous Cup of Nestor, whose inscriptions represent one of the oldest known examples (725 BC) of written ancient Greek.
The Angelo Rizzoli Museum
Inaugurated on 27 May, 2000, it features sections dedicated to the life, work and editorial and cinematographic activities of Angelo Rizzo. The museum contains more than 500 historical photographs documenting the entrepreneur's
life and the splendid Lacco Ameno period frequented by the era's most important politicians, artists, entrepreneurs and scientists.
La Mortella Gardens
Via Francesco Calise 39 - Forio (località Zaro)
Opening hours
From April to October
Tuesday, Thursday, Staurday and Sunday 9.00-19.00
Closed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Ticket sales stop half an hour before closing time.
Information and reservations: tel +39 081 986220
"La Mortella", now open to the public, is the splendid garden created by Susana Walton, the Argentinean wife of Sir William Walton, one of the twentieth century's greatest English composers.
The garden houses plants from all over the world, such as tree ferns from Australia and New Zealand, proteases and aloes from South Africa, Yucca and Agave cacti from Mexico, magnolias, bauhinias, palms and cycads. For a long period, Ischia was a quiet refuge for artists, musicians, writers and movie stars. Sir William Walton came to live on the island with his wife, Susana, just after World War II and the list of illustrious guests they entertained is long and prestigious: among them were Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Terence Rattigan and Maria Callas. The enchanting garden came into being in over fifty years of artistic input, love and determination by Lady Walton, who wanted to offer her composer husband a quiet refuge in which to work serenely and in solitude. While William composed, Susana created a masterpiece of her own, a unique garden made of flowers and plants from all over the world. The Walton's exotic tropical garden, La Mortella – or "the place of myrtle" – is known all over Europe and was designed by renowned landscape artist Russell Page. Today it hosts thousands of rare and exotic plants. Mortella, in Neapolitan dialect, is the name of the "divine myrtle" or Myrtus communis. Dominating the upper garden is the Greek Theatre, a conch built into the side of the mountain whose stage gives onto Forio Bay below.
La Colombaia of Luchino Visconti
Via Francesco Calise 130 - Forio
Opening hours
From 16 April to 31 October 10.00-13.00 / 16.00-20.00
Closed on Mondays
The front door closes 30 minutes before closing time.
Information and reservations: tel +39 081 987115 www.fondazionelacolombaia.it
Villa Colombaia was the legendary summer residence of famed 20th century Italian director and screenwriter Luchino Visconti and today it keeps the memory of the great man alive. Since 2004 it hosts the first nucleus of the permanent exhibition dedicated to the great maestro and is the seat of the eponymous foundation. The villa contains some 300 photographs, mementos that tell the story of the amazing life and work of the maestro. Villa Colombaia sits like a jewel between the sea and the sky, surrounded by woods and, not far away, there is an amphitheatre where once the rose garden lovingly tended by Visconti himself was. The amphitheatre can hold 500 spectators and hosts cultural events, concerts and movie projections during the summer months.
