Le Dimore – Panoramic Sea View Apartments in Forio Ischia

So many things have changed since 1975, the year my parents first opened the doors of Villa Olivia!
Fifty years have passed! 

I now have white hair and a few more kilos… yet the memories remain vivid and alive.
Even as I write these lines, I feel moved.

Villa Olivia and Le Dimore were born from the dream of my father and my mother. With courage, sacrifice, and endless energy, they were pioneers of self-catering in Ischia, at a time when few even knew what this formula was.

It offered the chance to enjoy a holiday at your own pace — and it still does today.

Back then, work never stopped, but the greatest satisfaction was seeing our guests return year after year: their loyalty repaid every effort.

Before the arrival of industrial laundries and the possibility of renting linen, everything was done at home.

Holidays shorter than 7 or 12 days were almost unthinkable: people came “from Saturday to Saturday,” and Friday was the great turnaround day, with laundry to be washed, hung out to dry, folded, and ironed by hand.

An immense job!

In the summer evenings, after dinner, my parents would sit under a mandarin tree to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Sometimes they remained alone listening to the song of crickets and cicadas; other times more friends joined in, stories were shared, and a glass of fresh wine passed between friends.

Long, spontaneous tables often appeared, where everyone brought something to eat: simple, authentic dishes that became a feast thanks to conviviality.

People laughed, sang in several languages… and life felt good.

And then there is the feast of San Vito, the patron saint of Forio, which every year from June 14 to 16 enlivens the town with processions, stalls full of sweets and toys, evening concerts, and above all, spectacular fireworks, soon after sunset.

Thirty minutes of light and color that once illuminated the summer sky— and still do today.

And if you ask me the best place to admire them, I can only say: from the panoramic terrace of our Dimore. The perfect frame… unless the sea breeze decides to carry away the smoke before the grand finale!

Today the fireworks still attract many visitors to Forio; they are filmed with smartphones and instantly shared online with relatives and friends far away.

But no matter how beautiful the recordings are, the emotion is never the same as when you admire them, for example, from the panoramic terrace of one of our Dimora: L’Ulivo.

June is a beautiful month on Ischia… why not start planning your stay?

those who have stayed with us at Villa Olivia and at Le Dimore in summer know the lush greenery, the long days, the gentle rhythm of holiday life.

But there are times of the year when Ischia lowers its voice and slows down.
These days, everything that made December evenings so pleasant to stroll through is being taken down: the lights, the decorated shop windows.
Daily life returns.

In some ways, it feels a little sad.
But it is also a necessary pause.

From January to the end of March, the whole island — and we with it — takes time to restore its energy.

At Easter, but without expecting a perfectly polished postcard island.

Ischia is always beautiful, but April is the ideal moment to discover its most authentic soul.
If you’d like to linger longer in this moment,
i’ve recorded two short audio stories.

Good Friday in Forio
Easter morning in Forio

The island is still slightly asleep, yet slowly it opens doors and windows to the fresh air coming from the sea.
Thermal parks reopen one by one; beaches are cleaned and, if the weather allows, the first sun loungers appear along the shore.

In April, it is possible to bath in the warm waters of Sorgeto Bay, or to cook food using the natural steam of the fumaroles — a simple and ancient experience, deeply rooted in Ischia’s traditions.

One of the gifts of travelling “out of season” is fewer visitors, which means more space and more time to enjoy.

Perhaps you have never seen Ischia like this.

Villa Olivia will reopen on April 1st.
Le Dimore on May the 1 st.

Those who already know us know that it is not just a place to sleep, but a space designed to live time at one’s own pace, without pressure.

This is when the value of small things is rediscovered:
breakfast with no schedule, a walk without a destination, coming “home” in the afternoon, when the air turns cooler and silence gently settles in.

And this is what makes certain moments truly special:
no plans are needed — just allowing yourself to be.

We are here, as always.
With the same spirit of welcome, in a time that invites you to slow down.

Warm regards,

There’s no place like home…especially during the holidays!

Home sweet home!

Of course. Everyone knows that.

And yet, here I am, tready to tell you about another kind of home —the island of Ischia, just as you’ve never imagined it.

A place where warmth is always present —not the warmth of summer sun on your skin, but a different kind of warmth, the one that gently reaches the heart.

Christmas in Ischia is a journey for the senses and the soul.
Walking through its narrow streets, in the morning or at dusk, you might hear the ancient music of the “Zampognari”-bagpipers who come down every year from the mountains of southern Italy to play traditional Christmas melodies of Advent.

Their music carries a sens of community and memory, softly echoing through the alley and courtyards.

At this days the air is filled with the scent of pizza with escarole, roasted chestnuts, fried cod, and traditional sweets like struffoli, roccocò and mustacciuoli.
Have you ever tasted them?

They’re flavours that speak of family gatherings, of time shared around the table, of simple and sincere joy, just like the island itself.

The whole island dresses up in lights: a shimmering glow that fills the streets with wonder and delight.
Every town has its own festive program, from the 6 th of December to January 7th, Ischia comes alive each evening with music, markets and performances for both adults and children.

In Forio even the boats moored in the harbour sparkle with thousands of lights – a spectacle best admired from a far , like a nativity made of reflections on the sea.
And once again, Le Dimore- L’Ulivo and Il Rosmarino- offer the perfect view, embracing the panorama of Forio all the way to the Zaro Promontory.

And then there’s the sea, whose Mediterranean light surprises every time, even in the middle of the winter.
The days are mostly mild, rarely cold, and long enough to enyoj a walk along the shore, far from the biting wind and endless nights of the North.

If you wish to experience something truly special, there’s always Sorgeto Bay, where natural hot springs meet the sea and the water stays warm all year round.

Over the years, Christmas at Villa Olivia has become a cherished tradition for many families from Northern Europe.
Those seeking warmth, nature, and a slower rhythm often find here their own moment of serenity.

And so we look forward to welcoming you to share the magic of an island illuminated sea and light, where every evening feels like a quiet celebration