At 789 metres, Mount Epomeo is the highest point on Ischia and the dominant feature of the island's interior. It is an extinct volcano — the last eruption was in 1302 — and the summit ridge is made of green tufa, a compressed volcanic rock light enough to be carved by hand. The views from the top take in the whole island and, on a clear day, the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, and the islands of Capri, Procida, and Ponza.
The standard route to the summit starts from Fontana, the highest village on the island, and takes about 45 minutes on foot along a rough track. You can hire a donkey in Fontana for the ascent — the animals are used to it and the owners will mind them while you explore the top. The track is not difficult but the sun exposure is intense in summer; start early and bring water. There is a simple restaurant near the summit open in season.