Aragonese Castle - Ischia Ponte, Italy. Incredible attractions: Aragonese castle on the island of Ischia Aragonese castle on the island of Ischia opening hours

Ischia Ponte / Campania

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Perched on top of a high cliff, the Aragonese Castle overlooks a small island located just off the larger island of Ischia, now a popular resort destination. The castle is connected to Ischia by a 15th-century stone bridge, 220 meters long. The rocky foundation of the island on which the castle is located is natural and is solidified magma that has accumulated here for a long time as a result of volcanic activity.

The highest point of the castle is located above the sea at an altitude of 113 meters, and its surface covers an area of ​​​​approximately 56,000 square meters. You can get to the fortress on foot along a mule trail or using a modern elevator, which was installed in the late 70s. The path first winds through a tunnel in the rock, made in the middle of the 15th century by order of Alfonso of Aragon, and then turns into a street until it leads to the highest part of the fortress, where the Watchtower is located. The remaining streets serving as access to the buildings and gardens of the citadel branch off from this main street. The height of the elevator is 60 meters above sea level and it is laid directly through the rock.

The citadel, which survived many military events, was abandoned for a long time, especially at the beginning of the 19th century. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did restoration work begin, which continues to this day, gradually restoring the architectural merits of this majestic monumental complex.

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The first fortress was built in 474 BC. the Greek from Syracuse Jerone, who came to the aid of the Cumans during the war against the Tyrrhenians. Along with other military structures, high towers were erected to monitor the movements of enemy warships. At the end of the war, the island remained under Gerone rule, but was later conquered by the Parthenopeans. In 326 BC. The Romans took possession of the island, and then again the Parthenopeans. Numerous robberies and periods of domination of different peoples and cultures on the island of varying lengths: the Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Arabs, Normans, Svei and Anjoins led to the fact that the original appearance of the Girone fortress changed beyond recognition.

When in 1301 the last eruption of the Epomeia volcano destroyed the city of Geronda, located where a pine grove now grows, the population of Ischia found their refuge on the island. In 1441, Alfonso d'Aragon restored the old castle of Angioino, connected the island with the island of Ischia with a bridge and erected powerful walls and fortifications, inside which almost all the inhabitants of the island of Ischia found refuge and protection from pirate attacks. In the first years of the 15th century, in the citadel 1892 families lived, the Monastery of Clarisse, the Abbey of the Basilians of Greece, the Bishop with the Chapter and Seminary and the Prince with his garrison. There were also 13 churches with 7 parishes.

Around 1750, when the pirate attacks stopped, the population moved to more convenient places on the island of Ischia. In 1809, the British blockaded the citadel, which was then in French hands, and bombarded it almost to the point of destruction. In 1823, the King of Naples removed the last remaining 30 inhabitants from the fortress, turning it into a place of detention. In 1851, a prison for political prisoners was set up there, and subsequently the island became a place of exile.

The Aragonese castle is considered the main attraction of the island of Ischia. Before going to Ischia, I had seen the castle in photographs many times, and, nevertheless, the effect of the direct meeting was strong.

The photographs do not at all convey the solemn grandeur of a high rock standing alone in the sea, on top of which there are numerous buildings, literally an entire city.

This, of course, is not Mont Saint-Michel, but they have something in common. Both of these creations are built on rocky islands connected to the shore by a causeway. Mont Saint-Michel is, of course, grander, its profile is exquisite, all of it is directed towards the sky - from the foot of the rock to the tower of the upper temple. The Aragonese castle looks solid and practical, simpler, however, in my opinion, this is the most attractive point of Ischia.

So, you are in Ischia, you walk along the sea to the castle. At first, the castle is visible in the distance: it will flash among the buildings, then it will open completely. You get closer, getting closer, until you find yourself in front of the causeway leading to the island.

A ticket to the castle costs 10 euros. A description with a diagram is attached to the ticket. There is a description in Russian (which is still very rare for Italian museums).

Fortunately, you don’t have to walk up (although there is such an opportunity) - there is an elevator. The elevator shaft is broken through the rock.

History of the Aragonese Castle

As we take the elevator up, I'll briefly tell you the history of the castle.

The first fortress on the rocky island appeared during the time of Magna Graecia, in the 5th century. BC. The Romans completed it. The fortress served faithfully for many centuries, protecting local residents from barbarians, vandals, Arabs, Normans and other dashing people.

In 1301, the Epomeo volcano showed its steep burrow, Ischia shook, people from the large island were blown away by the wind: all of them at one moment climbed onto the neighboring rock with a fortress. Yes, that’s how they settled down there.

During the Spanish rule, Ischia began to be plagued by pirates. Duke Alfonso d'Aragon in 1441 strengthened the walls, built a bridge between the islands, and since then the fortress began to be called “Aragonese Castle”. By the end of the 16th century, on this tiny territory there were 17 churches, a monastery of Clarisse, a seminary, a bishopric, and a military garrison. Behind the walls of the fortress, 1892 families found protection and shelter.

By the middle of the 18th century, the pirates calmed down, and residents slowly began to move to the big island. For some time there was a prison in the fortress, but now it is exclusively a museum object.

Walk through the castle

The elevator takes us to the top, and a fascinating journey through the Aragonese castle begins.

First we go up to the terrace of Our Lady Immaculate.

Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary

The Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary seems prohibitively large for such a small space; she is clearly cramped here. The abbess of the monastery, Clarisse, took on the impossible task of crowning the island with a grandiose temple. As a result, the huge church was left unfinished.

Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary from the cafe terrace

Inside the church there are empty walls decorated with modern installations.

I found the courtyard behind the church much more attractive with numerous arches and bougainvillea flowers.

After this glorious courtyard, we find ourselves in an eerie enclosed space, indicated on the diagram as the cemetery of the Clarisse nuns.

This series of small cameras. Some of them are empty

Some have seats like this

It turns out that dead nuns were placed on these chairs. The excretions of the decomposing bodies flowed down. The bodies were drying up. The dry bodies were placed in a common grave. This terrible rite was designed to instill in the nuns fortitude and contempt for death. They had to appear in these terrible cells and pray for a long time among the rotting bodies of their recent girlfriends, demonstrating a calm attitude towards the world of decay.

Having happily left these dungeons, we go out onto the upper terrace of the Monastery of Santa Maria della Consolacione.

View of the dam and Ischia

We go down to the lower terrace again. There's a pretty nice little park and a panoramic cafe there.

Prices in the cafe are exactly the same as in the city. For some reason, as soon as we go to a theatre, museum or, God forbid, a park/zoo, prices skyrocket (maybe this is only in Moscow?). In Europe, as a rule, there is no such difference.

There is a hall of marbles and stones, where gravestones, remains of columns and other stone products are chaotically stacked.

Many rooms have access to terraces with wonderful views.

On the one hand there is a wide open space, on the other there is a jumble of various buildings. Walls, partitions, extensions... They were molded as best they could. Just imagine - almost 2 thousand yards on a small island!

We go out to another terrace

Capri is visible in the distance

Getting closer to Capri:

On the other side of the mountain

The path leads to the other side of the mountain.

This cubic structure is the Church of St. Peter

We climb along the serpentine road to the distilleries and cellars

Distilleries follow sharp rise

and we find ourselves in the courtyard of the prison. Next to the prison is a church.

The path climbs higher and higher, and now we enter the terrace of the Olive Trees - another observation deck, which faces towards Procida and Naples.

View of Naples - Pozzuoli

Procida - Vesuvius

Under the terrace on the edge of the cliff perched a small church - Santa Madonna delle Grazie.

From the other side of the terrace you can see Ischia Porto

To the foot of the upper castle

One more climb and we come to the cafe “Il Terrazzo”.

View from the cafe

Actually, there is no passage above the cafe, but since there were no servants, I walked through the cafe and climbed up to the walls of the castle itself.

This is where the owners of the castle lived, including the poetess and friend of Michelangelo Vittoria Colonna (I wrote about her in).

Descent

We go down to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (the same one that we saw from above).

The church was built by a community of local fishermen.

We walk along a nice path called the Path of the Sun:

The Sun Path leads us to the Church of the Madonna of Salvation. It was built in the 12th century and was first dedicated to St. Nicholas. But during the eruption of the Epomeo volcano in 1301, the church was consecrated in honor of the Virgin Mary and they prayed that Mary would save them from death.

In the icon, the Mother of God stretches out her hands, as if trying to stop the flow of lava.

Next to the church are the buildings of Borgo San Nicola (“borgo” is a small settlement, town).

We're walking down the path again

and we go out to the ruins of the Cathedral of Assunta

The cathedral was built to replace the cathedral destroyed during the earthquake of 1301, which was located in Ischia.

On December 27, 1509, Vittoria Colonna and the then owner of Ischia, the Marquis Ferrante d'Avalos, were married in this cathedral.

In 1809, the British shelled the castle. During the shelling, many buildings of the Aragonese castle, including the cathedral, were damaged.

We returned to the beginning of the route. You can go down by elevator, but it is much more interesting to continue along the gallery carved into the rock. The gallery is striking in its height and extent. A grandiose building!

And already at the very bottom we come out into the light of day and look at the castle that we had recently walked through.

Ahead is the dam along which we return to the “big” island of Ischia.

Last look at the Aragonese castle

Of course, our photo walk gives only an approximate idea of ​​the Aragonese castle and is not able to accommodate numerous angles, vantage points, and details. In reality, I walked along the rock for about three hours, and every minute my hand involuntarily reached for the camera.

So, if fate takes you to Ischia, include the Aragonese Castle in your program.

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It was decided to visit the Aragonese Castle, which is located in the town of Ischia Ponte.

We traditionally missed the hotel bus to Forio, so we got to the center on foot. We ate ice cream, drank coffee and, having bought bus tickets at a tobacco kiosk, began to wait for our 1st or 2nd route.

If you buy tickets in advance at a tobacco shop, then the cost of a ticket is 1.2 euros, but if on the bus from the driver, then 1.7. That's why they are rarely bought on buses.

The bus we needed arrived at the stop, we loaded up and went to the port of Ischia. There we had to transfer to the next route, which would take us almost to the castle. On the way, I examined the surroundings. I was pleased with the abundance of flowers, both on trees and bushes, and in tubs. The villas we pass were named after women. We also met my name Anna.

The traffic seemed difficult to me - the roads were narrow, with sharp turns, it was difficult for a bus and a car to pass, but when two buses met, one was forced to stop and let the other pass. Sometimes I had to resort to folding the mirrors. But judging by the state of our bus, this did not always help him.

And here we are, in Ischia Ponte! The castle is visible from afar. It was located high on a cliff and it was impossible to get lost on the way to it.

We walked along the picturesque street of Ischia Ponte. The difference from the budget Forio is striking! The street is wider, the houses are more colorful, here and there steep stairs leading to residential floors could be seen. The shops are almost all branded and elegant. We didn’t see any sales of tourist junk from the “everything for 10 euros” series here. In general, Ischia Ponte seemed to us a more respectable and, of course, expensive resort.

So, we found ourselves opposite the bulk of the castle, which was located on the top of a cliff. The fortress has so merged into a single ensemble with a block of stone that it seems as if it grew out of it. In fact, the castle was cleverly built into a volcanic pedestal rising out of the water.

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In fact, the castle was located on a small island, a stone bridge led to it, on both sides of which people sunbathed and swam on huge boulders. It seems that the beaches here are not doing very well, a thought flashed through my mind.

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Along the bridge people sunbathe on boulders

At the entrance we paid 10 euros and along with the tickets we were given a wonderful brochure in Russian for exploring the castle on our own. Thanks to this book, we understood everything perfectly and had a great time. I wonder if our tourists are offered a group excursion to the Aragonese Castle? Because a guide is not needed here, and tourists will interfere with each other. It seemed so to us.

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The first mention of the castle dates back to the 5th century BC. At this time, the men of Hiero I of Syracuse founded a defensive fortress in the war with the Etruscans. In 315 BC, the Greeks were driven out by the Romans, who founded a colony on the island known as Aenaria. In the 12th-13th centuries, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the island became a refuge for the local population fleeing the raids of European robbers - Visigoths, Vandals, Normans, Swabians and Angevins, as well as African pirates. In the 14th century, the Dukes of Anjou built the Maschio Tower. And in the 15th century, the king of Naples, Alfonso V of Aragon, began seriously strengthening the island due to the increasing frequency of raids by Saracen pirates, and it was then that the Aragonese castle acquired its modern appearance. At the same time, a gallery was cut into the rock, from which our excursion began. In the 17th century, the island turned into a whole city in which people lived and were engaged in agricultural activities. The bishopric of Ischia, 13 churches, the monastery of the Clarissas, the Basilian Abbey, and seminaries were also located here. In the second half of the 18th century, Saracen pirates left the island and its inhabitants alone, and people began to leave the castle, which did not have enough resources for agricultural activities. And at the beginning of the last century, the castle was sold into private ownership. The new owners of the island opened the hotel "Albergo Il Monastero" in the bastions of the castle and began to work closely on arranging the territory, which allowed them to make the Aragonese castle the main attraction of Ischia.

When you come out of the heat into the cold embrace of a cave that seems to breathe time, you feel like you have been transported a good 5 centuries ago. At the end of the passage there is an elevator (unexpected for a medieval castle), which slowly took us to the top of the cliff.

After leaving the elevator, we went up a little and found ourselves on the Terrace of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which offered a breathtaking view of the town of Ischia Ponte and Fishermen's Beach. In the background were the hills and the peak of Mount Epomeo.

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15th century stone bridge

After leaving the terrace, we found ourselves in the monastery cafeteria, where our attention was attracted by four teenage kittens with amazing eyes. The tricolor mother cat lay not far from the children and enjoyed stroking the tourists. We played a little with the kids and moved on.

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Cat family

The next point was the monastery of St. Maria Consolazione, which was created in 1575, but was originally located on the top of Monte Epomeo, next to the church of St. Nicholas. But the novices did not live long in the mountains and moved to the Aragonese castle. The monastery existed until 1810, when it was liquidated by the King of Naples.

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We found ourselves in a small gallery in the open sun, decorated with flowers.

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Now part of the monastery premises is occupied by the European Institute of Restoration, which is engaged in the restoration of archaeological finds and other artifacts.

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I was in a hurry to visit a place that I had heard of before and really wanted to see - the Nuns' Cemetery. To get to this truly gloomy place, we had to go down a dark flight of stairs and wind our way through a labyrinth of corridors. In front of us was a small room with a low-vaulted ceiling, no windows, very stuffy, a through passage led to two more tiny rooms.

Along the perimeter of the rooms there were seats with armrests and a hole in the seats, into which the dead bodies of nuns were placed so that during decomposition, the excretions of the bodies flowed through the holes into special containers and then the dried skeletons were placed in a common grave. This ritual was based on the need to emphasize as much as possible the uselessness of the flesh as a simple receptacle for the soul. But that's not all! Every day the nuns went to this eerie place to pray and meditate about death. Spending many hours surrounded by the decaying bodies of their friends, the nuns themselves often fell ill with serious illnesses and soon joined their “neighbors.”

The Nuns' Cemetery made a strong impression on me. I didn’t take a photo of it for ethical reasons, but I’m posting the image I found on the Internet.

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Cemetery of Nuns. Photo from the Internet

After such a gloomy place, we took a breath on the Panoramic platform of the Monastery, once again admired the town, the blue sea with snow-white boats and the majestic arrow of the castle bridge crossing the strait to Ischia Ponte.

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The House of the Sun, where we then found ourselves, was a museum where exhibits of modern art and past eras were exhibited. The house is just like a house, nothing special, the only thing that impressed me was the labyrinth of rooms and terraces, as well as the steps leading to the latter. Immediately behind the house there was a wonderful garden of the Castle, in which lovely paths ran in different directions. We followed one of them and ended up in the Church of St. Peter in Pantaniello, built in 1564. The only hall of the church was hexagonal in shape. Under the dome there were round windows without glass. The room was pleasantly cool and we enjoyed relaxing there after the hot island sun. Next to the church there were distilleries and cellars, where you could see the bath into which the wine flowed and the place where the grapes were pressed.

The path led us to the Bourbon prison, where criminals, including political ones, were kept in the 19th century.

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The lonely guardhouse in front of the entrance to the prison was boring, and the two small halls of the prison - completely empty - did not inspire the feeling that cruel orders had reigned here quite recently.

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This is the highest point of the island accessible to tourists.

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We didn't really look at it because we decided it was time out. A few steps up and we are in the cafe-restaurant "Il Terrazzo".

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Terrace of olive trees

While we were relaxing in the company of soft drinks, a huge seagull flew to our terrace. I began to treat her with salted peanuts, she appreciated the offering and came very close to me. I could see droplets of saliva remaining on the stones as she picked up the offering, loudly striking the stones of the terrace with her beak.

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After finishing an unplanned snack, a seagull with its beak slightly open was hiding from the sun in the shade. The French, who were having lunch nearby, cautiously walked around her as they moved towards the exit. She apparently assessed me as not a dangerous person and allowed me to get quite close to her.

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But she moved away from Anton with dignity, and then flew away completely.

After refreshing ourselves with drinks, we set out to further explore the castle. Having descended from the Terrace of Olive Trees along a picturesque staircase, we found ourselves at the Church of St. Maria delle Grazie. Small and secluded, it stood on a cliff. Quiet church chants sounded inside, and a side passage opened towards the cliff. Above the high cliff there was a semicircular platform, which was part of the defense tower.

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In ancient times, the tower could be climbed from the fortifications located below along an external staircase.

Above the cliff, I saw the ruins of these walls, as if going into the ground. They say that there is also a furnace for heating cannonballs. I don’t know what it should look like, but there was something round there, although the view was blocked by another seagull sitting on the supposed stove.

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The Path of the Sun led us down to the steps of St. Christopher, surrounded by olive trees. Sometimes we came across wooden gates, unfortunately closed, from which the paths continued towards the sea. Here and there there were interesting open-air buildings, half destroyed, to which chipped steps led.

We ended up in another church, Madonna della Libera. Very quiet and calm. According to my brochure, it was built in the 12th century. Behind the roped-off area there slept a small keyboard instrument, an organ or a harpsichord - I don’t know, I don’t understand this matter. A European elderly couple was enjoying their holiday. Motes of dust flew in the light of the window. Music was playing softly.

We left this quiet monastery to go out onto Ailanthus Alley, which led us to the ruins of the Temple of the Sun. Several stone arches, steps and exorbitant heat - this is what we remember about these ruins, which were impossible to get to. Then we went to the small terrace of the Temple, where we admired the bay and took a small selfie photo shoot.

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Then we found ourselves back in the House of the Sun, from where we headed down the corridor to the elevator, but suddenly we heard a loud meow. It turns out that one of the kittens from the cafe got lost and was hiding in the bushes. I couldn’t pass by and tried to lure him out. Did not work. When I moved towards the wall, the kitten quickly galloped in the direction from which we came, I followed him. Two cats were sitting at the entrance to the House of the Sun, including his mother, to whom he rushed under her wing. Tired of the heat, the cat entered the shade of the house and I realized that the cats were happy here, calmed down and went to Anton, who was melting into a puddle by the elevator from the heat.

tukaevaanna
28/12/2015 14:00

The opinions of tourists may not coincide with the opinions of the editors.

The Aragonese castle was built on a 100-meter volcanic rock in 474 BC. e. For two thousand years it played an important defensive role: it was owned by the Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, and Italian pirates. In 1441, under the leadership of Alfonso I of Aragon, the fortress underwent a major reconstruction, and this is how it appears to tourists today.

Outside, the citadel is surrounded by high walls, and a steep road leads to its entrance (now you can go up by elevator). On the northern side of the complex stands a Greek watchtower. In the architecture of the Aragonese castle, the canons according to which fortifications were erected were intricately intertwined with Norman and Germanic motifs. Here you can see the church, chapel, monastery of the Clarices (including the premises where the nuns were buried), and the Museum of Torture.

Tours are conducted in Italian, but a brochure in Russian is included with the entrance ticket. There are also two cafes and a bookstore available to tourists on the castle grounds. The views from the heights of the fortress are considered the best in Ischia.

Aragonese castle on the map

Type: Historical property (castle, palace, ruins, etc.) Address: Ponte Aragonese, 80070 Ischia Napoli, Italia. Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to sunset. Cost: 10 €, for groups of over 20 people - 9 €, for children 10-14 years old, persons accompanying people with visual impairments and musculoskeletal impairments - 6 €, for children under 9 years old and persons with a degree of disability over 51 % - for free. How to get there: from the port of Ischia take bus number 7 or walk 30 minutes. Website.

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On a small island of volcanic lava, 220 m from the southeastern part of the island of Ischia, the famous Aragonese Castle rises. The sight of the castle floating like a ship right on the water surface of the Gulf of Naples is truly spectacular. Today, the castle of the d'Avalos family has become the hallmark of Ischia and its most popular attraction. The Aragonese castle was built back in 474 BC. e., soon two observation towers appeared in the neighborhood to monitor ships sailing in the surrounding waters. Apart from a few minor battles, nothing noteworthy happened on the island; the castle disappeared into oblivion. This continued until the 15th century, when the Aragonese rulers made Ischia the center of both political, cultural and spiritual life. The rock was connected to the island by a stone bridge, and the fortress was fortified with powerful walls. The heyday of the Aragonese castle began.

Today, the castle of the d'Avalos family has become the hallmark of Ischia and its most popular attraction. The sight of the castle floating like a ship right on the water surface of the Gulf of Naples is truly spectacular.