Il comune di BARANO Informarioni turistiche - Tourist's informations
By tradition, the inhabitants of the hamlet of Buonopane perform and cultivate a dance that is characteristic of the island of Ischia: the "ndrezzata". The name of Barano is also linked to the precious properties of its waters - Nitrodi (Nitrodes) and Olmitello (holmium). The medicinal properties of the waters have been known since ancient times. Among the properties of the Nitrodi waters, the most famous is that of giving freshness to the face and skin. But it is not only the waters that are precious. On the beach of Maronti, the largest beach on the island, there is a stretch of sand near St. Angelo that is very hot and has healing properties. Also, in Testaccio there is a miraculous fumarole, the "Sudataro" of Testaccio, whose hot and dry vapours produce miraculous effects.
The beach of Maronti, Barano's only beach, is certainly the biggest on the island. The beach is constantly scorching, and in summer hundreds of people come here in search of relaxation and fun. The beach is very well equipped. Indeed, behind the beach there are various places where you can hire boats, wind-surfing boards, canoes and pedalos. For those who wish to relax here, there are plenty of bars and restaurants which give out the aroma of home cooking. The Maronti, moreover, are known above all for the ancient Roman thermal spas that emit today, as they did at the time, the thermal smoke and natural essences of the volcanic earth, extolled by the world's greatest doctors for their curative properties.
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Barano d' Ischia town has a population of 9,000 inhabitants and covers about 12 square kilometres. It is situated in the south-west of the island is made up of several ancient agglomerates set on delightful hills. Its hamlets have their own individual history and traditions. The population, which is mainly of peasant origin, needed houses far from the town centre in order to be nearer their land. Thus, the villages of Fiaiano, Buonopane and Schiappone (and its quarter San Pancrazio), Piedimonte (with its quarters Matarace and Molara) and Testaccio (and its quarters Chiummano, Piano and Vatoliere) were created.
The town’s confines go from the Pilastri (coming from Ischia) and flow into the hills and up to the splendid Maronti beach found at the foot of Testaccio. They then disappear into the greenery on the outskirts of the town of Serrara-Fontana.
Barano has always been renowned for its fresh clean air, its fertile lush valleys, the beauty of its valleys and hills, for its breathtaking views, the Olmitello and Nitrodi springs and its cultural traditions. You can find examples of all the geological forms of erosion found in Italy here at Barano. The ‘cave’ (quarries) which cut cleanly like eroded ‘cuts’ here and there look rather like the ‘gravine’ (ravines) in Puglia (valleys shaped like deep crevices) or the swollen mounds known as the ‘cicciò’ of Piedmont, or the Bolognese ‘calanchi’ (gullies) (land which erodes easily) - or the ‘crete’ (chalk) of Siena.
In this strange and rather awesome landscape characterised by geysers and hot springs you can find the famous ‘Cave Scure’ on Maronti Beach, the natural quarries of Sant’Angelo, that of the bridge of Buonopane and the Pallarito quarry which begins at Fontana.
The main monuments are: the parish church St. Sebastiano, the church of S. Rocco, the parish church of St. Giovanni Battista and the parish church of S Giorgio. The "'Ndrezzata" is a traditional dance with frenetic rhythms and a faked violence expressed by the dancers who, armed with sticks and wooden swords, ‘fight’. It takes place in the quarter of Buonopane on the ‘lunedi’ dell’Angelo’ (‘Monday of the Angel’) and on the festival day of St John the Baptist.
Leaning on the slopes of Mount Epomeo, the built-up area of Barano descends towards the deep sea, pouring the greenery o f its vineyards right down to the enchanting beach of Maronti. The Maronti beach is around 2km long. It reaches as far as Sant'Angelo, which is part of the municipality of Serrara Fontana. The beach of Maronti is often an attraction even at night. On summer nights, you can often find yourself in the middle of an open-air disco organised on the beach by the island's best DJs.
The inhabitants live mainly on agriculture, even if over the last few decades tourism has begun to have beneficial effects here. Even though Barano is not the largest municipality in Ischia, it has the highest number of hamlets spread out over its hilly territory: Buonopane, Testaccio, Piedimonte, Starza, Vatoliere, Schiappone, Chiummano, Fiaiano and Molara. Barano offers tourists a wide range of panoramas, views and charming spots.
