Aragonese Castle, Medieval castle on volcanic islet, Ischia, Italy
Description
Aragonese Castle is a stone fortress rising from a volcanic rock formation, connected to Ischia island by a 220-meter stone bridge across the sea. The complex includes residential spaces, administrative buildings, religious sites, and defensive walls that shaped life in this isolated stronghold.
History
The first defensive structure was built by Hiero I of Syracuse around 474 BCE to monitor fleet movements in the Gulf of Naples. Later it developed into a fortified settlement that housed people for centuries.
Culture
The grounds hold multiple religious buildings, including the Cathedral of Assunta and the Church of Immacolata built during the 1700s. These structures show how central faith was to the lives of those who lived and worked here.
Practical
Access to the castle runs through a tunnel carved into the rock, with entry tickets available from 9:00 AM at the base station. The grounds are steep and require sure footing; comfortable shoes and water are practically essential.
Did you know?
The site once housed up to 2000 families together with a military garrison, two monasteries, and several churches during the 1700s. This dense settlement made it one of the most populated fortresses of its era.
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Campania gathers UNESCO sites, Roman ruins frozen in time, and landscapes shaped by volcanic activity. Naples shows its baroque churches, medieval castles, and museums where paintings from Pompeii and Herculaneum are kept. Mount Vesuvius overlooks the gulf, while the Phlegraean Fields form a land of...
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