Traversata di Poseidone

Between Sant'Angelo and Forio, the island of Ischia meets the open sea. Traversata di Poseidone is an open water swimming race in the sea of Ischia, held along the coast from Sant'Angelo to the Giardini Poseidon in the municipality of Forio, Campania. Swimmers take on a 5,000-metre course that traces this coastline, cutting through the protected marine waters of the Regno di Nettuno. Taking place in the sea, the route offers swimmers long stretches of clear water. The event, organised by Associazione ETS IschiaForYou, gathers a large open water swimming community. In past editions held in October, the race, also known as Traversata di Nettuno, has brought together over 840 participants along this coastal stretch.

Swimmers moving together in a large pack must navigate the open water, keeping their bearings on the headlands and the support boats guiding the field. For swimmers exploring the island's waters, Ischia also hosts the Periplo Isola d'Ischia just six kilometres away. Another nearby event, the Ischia – Italian Open Water Tour, takes place nine kilometres away and features a course passing under the bridge connecting the Aragonese Castle to the village of Celsa. In that circuit's Hard Swim race, participants have also experienced a boat transfer out to the start line set near the sea stacks of Procida.

Baia di Sorgeto: boiling sea vents and ancient Greek landings

The coastline curves into the crescent cove of Baia di Sorgeto, enclosed by high vertical rocky cliffs. From the land, reaching this secluded cove requires descending approximately two hundred steps down the steep hillside. These natural thermal springs bubble up into the bay at temperatures reaching ninety degrees Celsius. While ninety degrees would be scalding on its own, the boiling thermal water flows directly into the colder sea among volcanic rocks, creating natural hot water pools along the shoreline where bathers sit comfortably in tempered rock basins. Archaeological discoveries of ancient artifacts indicate that Greek colonists landed at the bay of Sorgeto around 790 to 780 BC, establishing one of the earliest presences in the region.

Punta Imperatore and the petrified ship of La Nave

The promontory of Punta Imperatore is situated near the village of Panza. Just northwest of the Punta Imperatore lighthouse stands La Nave, an impressive solitary rock that rises about twenty metres above sea level. Various local legends have grown around the formation of this colossal sea rock over the centuries. According to local lore, the crags off this shore represent sailors who were transformed into stone by Venus as punishment for helping Odysseus on his journey. The sea around Ischia features several other notable rock formations, such as the Pietre del Cavallone, a group of rocks located in Campania near the island. Swimmers and boaters exploring this coast also encounter the Pietre Rosse, another cluster of rocks situated off the island of Ischia. Similarly, the Camerata rocks form another prominent marine grouping positioned in the waters surrounding Ischia.

Citara and Giardini Poseidon: volcanic springs on the shoreline

Rounding the cape, swimmers enter the wide coastal expanse of Citara, positioned near Punta Imperatore and the village of Panza. In front of the beach of Citara lies the small island of Pietra Bianca, resting offshore as a natural sea marker. The surrounding seabed and shores hold deep historical roots, highlighted by the discovery of an ancient white marble statue of Venus Citarea in the area. Along the beach of Citara, natural spring water flows directly into the sea, mixing freshwater and minerals with the saltwater shallows. The thermal springs feeding the local baths are of volcanic origin, driven by the intense geothermal activity underlying the island. The 5,000-metre course reaches its finish line at the Giardini Poseidon, the extensive thermal park.

Swimmers leave the sea and can immediately step into the park's thermal pools, which feature water temperatures ranging from 28 to 40 degrees Celsius. Stepping out of the open water into these warm volcanic baths offers an ideal way to recover tired muscles after kilometres of open water swimming.

The Forio seafront: coastal watchtowers and the cliff of Soccorso

The town of Forio, which hosts the finish area, has a rich maritime history shaped by centuries of coastal defense. Over the centuries, the settlement was subjected to numerous Saracen invasions arriving from the sea. To protect the population, coastal watchtowers were erected along the coastline for defense, with the stone tower known as the Torrione being the most famous among them. Watching the sun dip below the open water where you spent the morning swimming provides an unforgettable conclusion to race day. Very close to the shore of La Chiaia beach in Forio, swimmers can spot Pietra Impisa, consisting of two distinctive rocks rising right by the sand. A short journey further along the coast brings you to Lacco Ameno, where the famous rock known as Il Fungo sits just a few tens of meters from the shore.

This green tuff formation stands approximately ten meters high and fell into the sea from Mount Epomeo during prehistoric times. Over millennia, the erosive action of the sea waves and coastal winds carved the tuff block into its characteristic mushroom shape, creating one of the most recognizable sea landmarks in the waters of Ischia.