“LaccOnArt, I’ll Take You There”: Guided Tours Through Archaeology, History and Local Culture Return

During the holiday season, a much-anticipated event returns to Lacco Ameno, which in previous editions has met with great praise and appreciation. “LaccOnArt – I’ll Take You There,” now in its 4th edition, confirms itself as an engaging project aimed at rediscovering the territory, its roots and traditions. A journey through time—from the Greek settlements of the 8th century BC to the tourism boom of the mid-20th century—offering an educational and awareness-raising experience through an engaging walk through the historic center of the town. The initiative brings island visitors closer to the places and to the rich environmental, architectural and cultural heritage of Lacco Ameno.

On Friday 26 December and Wednesday 31 December, as part of the holiday events program, archaeologist Mariangela Catuogno will guide participants along an itinerary embracing archaeology, landscape and intangible culture—elements that over the centuries have been fundamental to the growth of Lacco Ameno and its community. This is not a simple excursion through the geographic layout of the “town of the Fungo,” but a true experience of “territorial storytelling,” designed to connect participants and local communities through history, art and culture.

The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. at Villa Arbusto, with a guided visit to the rooms of the Pithecusae Archaeological Museum, which recounts the history of the island of Ischia from prehistory to the Roman age. The itinerary then continues through the town center, among the ancient 18th-century buildings along the main street, through a narrative that encompasses the tradition of thermal baths and mineral waters, religious architecture, craftsmanship and fishing (including the tuna-trap tradition), the myth of Angelo Rizzoli—who reinvented island tourism with an unprecedented international vision—and the evocative richness of intangible culture, starting with the Feast of Saint Restituta and the historical-liturgical reenactment in the Bay of San Montano.

The cost of participation in the guided itinerary is €6 per person.

For archaeologist and cultural communicator Mariangela Catuogno, who will accompany participants on the “LaccOnArt – I’ll Take You There” routes, “this initiative has become firmly established over time through an increasingly structured program that has seen growing participation, not only in numbers but also in terms of interest, curiosity and appreciation. In past years, despite many hotel facilities being closed, the response was very positive. Tourists, in particular, have shown their appreciation for an initiative that helps them read the many signs of time—even the most unfamiliar ones—imprinted on the landscape and on our heritage.”

“LaccOnArt – I’ll Take You There” is also conceived with a tourism perspective. According to Carla Tufano, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture, “cultural heritage is an important segment of our identity and must be cared for with greater awareness. This can only happen by rediscovering the territory and the traditions it preserves, interacting with local communities to create a ‘sustainable’ tourism product that places the community, its history and its knowledge at the center.”

“LaccOnArt – I’ll Take You There” is an initiative included in the program “Christmas Together in Lacco Ameno” and is organized by the Municipality of Lacco Ameno in collaboration with the Pithecusae Archaeological Museum.