Blue Monday
View out to sea from the Temple of the Sun, Ischia
Welcome to January, a time when the company holiday parties have come to an end, the tinseled trees have been stuffed back into storage, and the champagne flutes of New Year’s Eve have been polished and placed back into that far corner cabinet to gather another year of dust. For many, this fresh calendar page ushers in a gray and gloomy disposition that is only partially due to winter weather. Some have gone so far as to claim it as the most depressing month of the year while others go further still, whittling down the peak of despair to a single day: Blue Monday. The most depressing day of the year.
Blue Monday was first coined by Cardiff University psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2005 who built a formula to calculate its precise date. It factors in everything from seasonal weather conditions and light exposure to spikes in post-holiday debt, dips in post-holiday mood, failed New Year’s resolutions, and low motivation levels. The convergence of these factors supposedly places Blue Monday on the third Monday of January, although it’s been known to oscillate, so look out!
With such dreary outlooks on the New Year weighing heavily on our psyche, it is therefore important–nay, imperative–that an antidote is delivered! Now is the time to begin planning your summer escapes, so let’s bring a bit of that Italian sunshine back into our daydreams with a visit to Ischia.
Ischia is located just off the shore of Naples in southern Italy, and while its size should make it nearly impossible to miss, many travelers do. Why? Put simply - good marketing. Ischia, while larger and therefore more expansive in its offerings to travelers, lives in the mighty shadow of its smaller sister, Capri, whose reputation as a “must see” destination has long drawn global focus away from its neighbors. But that may not be a bad thing!
The benefit to this unequal attention? Ischia remains comparatively less impacted by the throngs of mass tourism. A visit here in late spring or early summer offers the same warm weather, similar views, and comparable experiences minus the inflated prices and foot traffic. Sure, you’ll still find yourself mixed in among summer guests, but with Capri catching global interest Ischia becomes a draw more for families & visitors seeking their summer sun over their summer selfie.
Where Capri’s beachfront real estate is limited to the rocky shores of Marina Piccola and leaves visitors fighting for inches, Ischia offers wide sandy stretches of coastline with ample room for even the most sprawling of beach towels. Ischia also boasts thermal pools like those found at Negombo, hiking trails up Mt Epomeo, a lively shopping street along Corso Vittoria Colonna, and reliable bus transportation to get you across the island. Interested in a lush and floral experience? The botanical gardens of Giardini la Mortella near Forio make a wonderful escape into shaded paths and colorful petals. Climb further up the gardens 2 hectares sprawl towards the Temple of the Sun and enjoy the shift in plant life from rare and exotic blooms to arid cacti and agave species. From here a beautiful and unobstructed view of the Tyrrhenian Sea awaits!
From Naples, the warm beaches of Ischia are but a short ferry ride away. From here in January, they are perhaps a bit further. But as you cozy up and keep your head down through the upcoming Blue Monday, take relief in the knowledge that Ischia awaits in those warmer months; ready to open shop and serenade visitors at the first sign of that warm summer breeze.
