Hotel Review: Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Ischia

Five-star Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa on the volcanic island of Ischia is the most perfect example of elegance without pretence.

Capturing the best of Italian enchantment, the Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa on the beautiful island of Ischia is home to a charming 16th-century coral-coloured watchtower perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the sparkling Bay of Naples.

Details

Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Ischia, Italy.

First impressions

Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa is buried deep in a forest of pine wood, on the edge of a rocky promontory, so you feel a wonderful sense of seclusion as you arrive down its long entrance way. A totally private and peaceful oasis, the striking architecture of its watchtower, plus the incredible thermal pool overlooking its turquoise bay will immediately take your breath away.

Marie-Louise Sciò, of the famed Il Pellicano, has done a magnificent job in breathing new life into this majestic gem that reopened in May, and the feeling here is one of laid-back elegance and luxury.

Laidback elegance and luxury (Photo: Giada Mariani)

Seclusion at it’s finest (Photo: Giada Mariani)

The suites

With 57 rooms and nine different categories to choose from, there is certainly something here to suit everyone’s taste.

Rooms and suites are scattered throughout the property, from the ancient tower to private cottages dotted along the hillside, all of which offer striking views back over the Tyrrhenian Sea. To best capture the essence and magic of the property, we recommend paying that little bit extra for one of the larger suites (the Bellevue Suite, for example) housed in the ancient tower, on one of the higher floors, which offer panoramic views and come complete with their own private terrace with sun lounges and umbrellas. We love the Italian tilework and classic furnishings throughout.

A beautiful bed featuring panoramic ocean views

The food

There are two dining options at Il Mezzatorre. La Baia, the more causal offering, overlooks the pool and the little bay beach, and focuses on fresh captures from the sea. Open for lunch and dinner, La Baia prides itself on featuring all the very best local and seasonal produce. Its San Marzano tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella were mind-blowing.

Other favourites included penne with four different types of tomatoes, and ‘limone salad’, made with Ischia’s famed ‘bread’ lemons (lemons as big as your head) with a salad of rucola and anchovies. La Torre Restaurant is the more formal option, and draws its inspiration from regional gastronomic favourites. Begin your evening with an aperitivo at Bar La Torre while watching the sun go down, before moving across to the restaurant for dinner.

There are plenty of dining settings to choose from (Photo: Ted Gushue)

An Italian dream (Photo: Giulio Oriani & Beatrice Vergani)

Services

The Spa

Il Mezzatorre’s Spa and Wellness Centre makes the best use of the island’s precious thermal waters, with its own private spring that flows directly into three hydrotherapy pools.

Housed in the watchtower building, the spa offers mind and body treatments – including mud therapies using the mud made from these thermal waters, which is perfect for healing and curing various diseases such as respiratory diseases, rheumatism and dermatitis. The spa features both Santa Maria Novella products from Florence, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, and Biologique Recherche.

The pools

There are four pools within the hotel – three indoor pools and a stunning outdoor one, which is heated with seawater, and has steps down to a private bay beach. With an array of sun lounges to choose from, and drinks and snacks available from La Baia next door, you could easily spend an entire day here. The warm thermal waters of the indoor pools are superb for relaxation.

Superb relaxation (Photo: Giulio Oriani & Beatrice Vergani)

Just one of the beautiful pools (Photo: Giada Mariani)

Gym facilities

There might not be any gym facilities as such, but the beautiful walking and jogging paths that snake around the Il Mezzatorre property offer an incredible workout through a heavenly nature setting, amidst lush Mediterranean scrub and breathtaking views.

Nearby activities/tours available

Take some time to wander through the nearby La Mortella Gardens. One of the world’s greatest botanic gardens, designed by Lady Susana Walton for her husband, the British composer Sir William Walton, and opened to the public almost 30 years ago.

We also suggest hiking to the top of Mt Epomeo (start from the little village of Fontana) for its knockout 360-degree views of the island and beyond.

Take in views of the island and beyond at La Mortella Gardens

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The IT Verdict:

For privacy and seclusion, Il Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa offers the best and most romantic option from which to enjoy the wild beauty of Ischia and its famed natural thermal springs.

Location: 10/10

Perfectly secluded and enchanting, the charm of this hotel is that there’s nothing much else around.

Style/character: 10/10

The interiors here are perfect – warm, delicate and terribly inviting – coupled with beautiful Italian tilework, providing the perfect amount of luxury and elegance.

Service: 10/10

Rooms: 10/10

Food and Drink: 10/10

Value for Money: 9/10

While the location, food and private rocky cove themselves are certainly worth paying for, some of the rooms could be considered a little small, unless you are willing to splurge for a higher room category.

Price: (per night)

Double rooms start from $712 per night.

Best thing:

The attentive service, the exceptional food offering, and the wildly romantic location make this an exceptional hotel experience.

Getting there:

Private transfers, via ferry or speed boat, can be arranged from Naples airport or train station.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius

A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.