Guided walking tour of Ischia’s gardens with wine-tasting

Spend a day visiting the gardens of Ischia on this guided walking tour. Begin the day by visiting a typical Ischitano garden, where you'll see how the people who live on the island grow food. Local guide, Mirco explains, “The secret ingredient in many of Ischia's gardens is the volcano beneath them. The mineral-rich soil helps everything grow with remarkable vigour, from vines to wildflowers.”It's a tasty start to the tour. At your first garden, Agriturismo U'Muzzuconthe, you'll sample Ischian wine and other local products, all of which were made right here on the island. Up next is a visit to Villa Arbusto, where more garden tours are on the menu. You'll explore the museum's greenery and get a look at the different types of plants and trees on show here, including a few species of Italian stone pine – this tree is the official symbol of Ischia. Mirco adds, “It's often called Ischia's umbrella tree. Once you know its distinctive shape, you'll start spotting it all over the island”.Then, you'll round off the tour with a visit to La Mortella, a subtropical and Mediterranean garden designed to include volcanic rocks in its layout. You'll find lots of rare and exotic plants here, like the Victoria amazonica, the second-largest water lily in the world, but don't forget to head to the top of the upper garden, where you can take in an unforgettable view of the Bay of Forio. You'll end your day with a whole new level of respect for the resilient, tasty and plentiful plants, fruits and vegetables that this volcanic island nurtures.