Ischia

ISCHIA (formerly Oenaria and Pithecusa), island in Italy, in the Mediterranean, North of the entrance to the Bay of Naples, 69 square kilometers (43 sq. miles). Pop. 24.500. Near its center stands the Epomeo volcano, 800 m above sea level. The latest eruption of the volcano occurred in 1301, and there are 12 smaller volcanoes. Valleys are extraordinarily fertile, and the island has very busy hot springs. The main town, Ischia, on the East side (Pop. 3080) is defended by a castle built in the twelfth century, and linked up to the mainland by a mole. On 28 July 1883, a tremendous earthquake almost destroyed from top to bottom this small city and some of the surrounding villages. More than 2,000 people, including a large number of tourists and bathers, were killed during this disaster.
 
Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.