Nitrodi Spa

The Nitrodi Spring in 1588

The  Nitrodi Spring.

A passage from the book “De’ Rimedi Naturali che sono nell’isola di Pithecusa oggi detta Ischia^–  by Gulio lasolino, published in 1588. “a warm water which is called the Fountain of Nitrodi and is born almost behind the last part of  the ‘belly’ of the great Epomeo and juice’s abundantly from rocks. It is warm, sweet, shiny and lakes unpleasant Odors.
When it cools ( it cools quickly) it is light and for the acuteness of its substance becomes drinkable. Many claim thati In this fountain there is a rather noble mine, perhaps of gold, silver, brass or iron. Certainly everyone has been deceived, for there is not any metal, but sediments, or rather excrement, which distills the very white water that has something of a salty taste which one doesn’t taste at first. It is probably for this reason that the ancients gave the name Nitrodi to this fountain a diminutive derived from Nitre. The water is not lacky in purity and is very good for the table,  for cooking foods and for mixing with wine.
The inhabitants of the town use the water in  many other ways and for other needs whenever they wont sweet water and anything similar to it. The citizens of the hamlet of Barano and other neighboring places owe a lot just to this water has it is a rare and singular example of naturally warm waters. I believe it becomes warm when it passes over stones under which surfer burns. If the water smells tasted like surfur, has it passes for a long stretch over sweet land, almost has if retorting, it loses the surfur smell and taste. This water is refreshing, it keeps the bowels under control and it takes care of everything that it can.
It can be a bath of sweet water and is drinkable. The women who habitually wash clothes in it and use it for other needs benefit from it; such women are beautiful and keep their bodies healthy. This water is most useful to daughters and children when they drink it and use it in the washroom. The hamlet is small yet partially for the peasantness of the place and air, and partially for the waters, it has many old man over ninety years of age.
This shouldn’t be a wonder, for trough the Island the men and women live a long time. This place certainly surpasses all other place.