Castello Aragonese Perched upon a volcanic rock in the gulf of Naples looking over the water is Castello Aragonese, which, despite being detached from the island of Ischia, is its most impressive large structure. Construction of a fortress on this location began in 474 BC by Hiero I of Syracuse and initially consisted of a pair of towers overlooking the sea. The ancient people of Naples, the Parthenopeans, took control of the rock until the Romans claimed it in 326 BC, before losing it again to the Parthenopeans. Eventually, in 1441, control was in the hands of Alfonso V of Aragon who built a stone bridge connecting it to Ischia. The castle exterior looks austere, its ancient walls and ramparts merge well with the bleak and weather worn rock-face. Once you have made the 113-metre climb, it’s not difficult to see why it is Ischia’s most visited attraction: it offers breathtaking views (for those with reduced mobility there’s an elevator). Other attractions are the churches that include the tiny chapel dedicated to San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce (St. John Joseph of the Cross), and the Church of the Immacolata, built in 1737 and originally dedicated to St. Francis. The castle is open to the public every day from 09:00 am until sunset and admission costs €10, concessions exist for children and the disabled including free admission. For more information, call: +39 081 992 834
Italy Magazine
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