The 17-square-mile volcanic island of Ischia, a 90-minute ferry ride from Naples on Italy’s west coast, was a different world 60 years ago for Elena, the narrator of Elena Ferrante’s popular four-book series detailing the lifelong friendship of two women. Ischia, known for its thermal spas, beaches and rustic cuisine, received its first dose of glamour in the 1960s when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were photographed kissing here.
Recently, Ischia was the site of Elena’s first trip away from home in “My Brilliant Friend,” the first book in what’s known as the Neapolitan Novels. The bestselling quartet, translated from Italian by Ann Goldstein and published between 2012 and 2015, has inspired a new generation of visitors to the island, home to about 60,000.
