Eclipse at Sunset in Ischia: The Magic of August 12, 2026
Eclipse at Sunset in Ischia: The Magic of August 12, 2026
On August 12, 2026, sunset in Citara, Forio, was different from any other evening. On the beach, the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. People were waiting, looking toward the horizon and the sky, knowing that something unusual was about to happen.
There was also a little apprehension. Watching a solar eclipse requires proper eye protection, so everyone was trying to find a safe way to experience it. Some people were watching from a SUP out on the water, others from a boat. Someone was walking along the shore with a child, while others had chosen our seafront deck as their viewpoint. Some simply stayed at their table, looking toward the sky and waiting for the eclipse to begin.
It felt almost as if the whole of Citara had quietly gathered for the same moment.
Until about twenty minutes before the eclipse, the sky was still bright, with the warm light of a typical summer evening in Ischia. Then, little by little, the colors began to change. The light became deeper and darker, and the atmosphere on the beach changed with it. The sunset was already beautiful, but now there was something else happening above the sea.
I decided to film it because I couldn't safely watch the eclipse with my naked eyes. I didn't have the proper solar filters to observe it directly, so I chose to let the camera capture the moment instead. I started recording about half an hour before, so that the video could show not only the eclipse itself, but also the waiting, the people on the beach, the boats and the gradual transformation of the light.
The eclipse remained clearly visible for almost all of its duration. Then, just toward the end, some clouds moved across the sky and covered it for a while. For a moment, it seemed that the show was over. But then the clouds moved away and the eclipse appeared again, giving us one last glimpse before disappearing.
It was magic.
Not only because of what was happening in the sky, but because of the way everyone experienced it. Someone was out on the water, someone was on a boat, someone was walking along the beach with a child, others were watching from our deck or from their tables. Different people, different places, but for a few minutes everyone was looking in the same direction.
We wanted to keep those images for anyone who wasn't able to see the eclipse themselves. The video was filmed from Gabbiano Beach in Citara, Forio – Ischia, and begins around half an hour before the eclipse, following the changing light and atmosphere as the evening unfolds.
Because that evening in Ischia, we didn't simply watch an eclipse.
We watched a sunset become something extraordinary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the solar eclipse visible in Ischia?
The solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 was visible from Ischia during the evening, coinciding with sunset over the western coast of the island.
Where could you see the eclipse at sunset in Ischia?
The western coast of Ischia offers beautiful views toward the setting sun. This video was filmed from Citara, in Forio, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Could you look at the eclipse with the naked eye?
No. A solar eclipse should not be viewed directly without proper certified solar eye protection. We chose not to look at it directly and instead recorded the event with a camera equipped for the occasion.
What was it like watching the eclipse from Citara?
It was a remarkably peaceful experience. People watched from the beach, from boats and SUPs, along the shoreline and from the tables and deck at Gabbiano Beach. For a few moments, everyone was sharing the same view of the sky.
Where was this video filmed?
The video was filmed at Gabbiano Beach, Citara, Forio – Ischia, Italy, beginning approximately half an hour before the eclipse.
A sunset in Ischia that, for a few minutes, became something extraordinary.
by Gabbiyaah
Stories from Ischia