On the Top of Monte Epomeo

The name of the highest point of the island of Ischia is explained in different ways - according to one version it comes from the Latin Epomeus, which means "to look around", according to another - from Epopon - which can be interpreted as "a place that dominates the springs". From a geological point of view, it is an extinct volcano that began to form 100 thousand years ago. The cone of the volcano was formed during an eruption that occurred 55 thousand years ago, as a result of which a bizarre top was formed from the frozen products of the eruption - white tuff. This natural creation reminded me of a reclining lion.

The volcano inspired terror during the Roman Empire-catastrophic eruptions occurred in 158 and 81 BC, in 856, the volcano was active in the early Middle Ages-eruptions occurred in 1170 and 1301. Apparently, the volcano did not die completely - in 1660, 1995, 2001 there were sulfur emissions. Tuff has a porous structure, in fact it is a frozen foam of molten rocks. Because of the heterogeneity, less resistant rocks were destroyed for thousands of years under the influence of salty sea air and weathered, resulting in such stone patterns.

The path to the top is located to the right of the Church of St. Nicholas. At first, it seems to be nothing terrible - the same path-gutter made of smooth white stone.

Now you can see the top with the mast, but you still have to reach it somehow.

The path goes up into the sky. I didn't bother to guess what was beyond the ridge, but went on climbing.

Beyond the ridge was a sloping platform above the cliff, and then a flight of stone steps led up to the top. I didn't try to look down and went on.

Pausing in a hollow in front of the rock-cut steps, I plucked up the courage to look to my left. A view of the peak of Pietro dell'Acqua, 720 meters high, opened up. Under the feet of the belfry of the church of St. Nicholas. It's creepy...

It's not so scary to look to the right. Here you can see the town of Lacco Ameno in the northern part of the island.

As I climbed the last few meters to the top, I saw that I wasn't the first visitor here today, even though it was still very early. Well, in the next article I will tell you and show you what you can see from the top of Monte Epomeo.