Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or a cuisine-curious newbie, here are five great reasons to explore Ischia.
1. Taste traditional, wild-caught dishes
Arguably Ischia’s most popular delicacy is the Ischitanian rabbit. The rabbits live wild in the woods and mountains and are still caught according to ancient tradition, where farmers lay pits in the wild to trap the rabbits, feeding them with wild grass until they are big enough to eat. The rabbit is then cooked in a terracotta dish with garlic, local white wine, tomatoes and the island’s spices. A variation on this dish, which you find on restaurant menus, is bucatini with rabbit sauce.
2. Sample fresh, local seafood
Before the island began to attract tourists, the economy relied mainly on agriculture and fishing. You will still find many varieties of fish used in the island’s cuisine, and one of the most popular dishes is pesce all’acqua pazza (fish in ‘crazy’ water).
3. Enjoy Ischia’s pizzas, inspired by Naples
Being so close to Naples and its influence, Ischia is one of the best places in Italy to enjoy pizza. There are many pizzerie on the island, in which you can try a classic Napoletana pizza, or opt for one of the island’s special seafood pizzas, such as the Napoli, which is topped with anchovies.
4. Revel in the fruits of the land
The island’s nutrient-rich, fertile soil is ideal for growing all sorts of fruit and vegetables, particularly tomatoes. Garden rocket grows well and is used in the bitter liqueur rucolino, while the lemon groves get put to good use producing traditional versions of the famous limoncello liqueur.
5. Quaff the best wines in Ischia
Ischia’s wines are renowned for their high-quality, due to the fact many of the grapes are grown in the fertile soil surrounding Mount Epomeo. Some of the best wines to sample are the whites Forastera and Biancolella, and the reds Piedirosso and Guarnaccia.
Planning a trip? First, read our Ischia travel guide
Written for Italia! #221 (June/July 2026)