Ischia's Aragonese Castle: the island's iconic stronghold

About this activity

The Aragonese Castle, is one of the most representative symbols of the island of Ischia and is located on a small island of trachytic rock (i.e., of magmatic origin). It is currently owned by the Mattera family, which takes care of it by guaranteeing its opening to the public 365 days a year, carrying out the necessary maintenance and restoration works and promoting cultural events.

Why Visit The Aragonese Castle of Ischia

The construction of the first castle dates back to 474 B.C. under the name of Castrum Gironis, or "castle of Girone," in honor of its founder; while the modern structure of the fortress and castle is attributed precisely to the Aragonese from whom it takes its name, who conceived it on the model of the Maschio Angioino in Naples.

Alfonso V of Aragon had a wooden bridge built that connected the islet to the larger island, and mighty walls and fortifications were also built, within which almost all the people of Ischia found refuge and protection during pirate raids.The structure's heyday came at the end of the 16th century and coincided with a very happy moment culturally for the entire island, which was frequented by the best artists and literary figures of the century, including Vittoria Colonna, who lived in the castle for about 35 years, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Ludovico Ariosto, Jacopo Sannazaro, John Pontanus, Bernard Badger, Hannibal Caro the Aretine And many others.

With the end of the Aragonese epic, the Castle passed first under Spanish and then under Austrian rule. In time, the Castle, although an excellent instrument of military defense, proved wholly inadequate to meet the daily needs of its inhabitants in peacetime, the Ischitans thus scattered throughout the island to take care of their activities more directly and efficiently. In 1655, a terrible plague contributed to the depopulation of the castle. In 1737, the Spanish regained possession of the island of Ischia and the Castle, which, like the Maschio Angioino, was used as a military fortress and prison for common criminals. In 1860, with the invasion of Joseph Garibaldi, Ischia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and the political prison located in the Castle was suppressed. In 1912 the state property administration, placed the Aragonese Castle up for auction.

Since then, the island has been managed by private individuals, who take care of its restoration and management.

The most important things to know about Ischia's Aragonese Castle

Near the Aragonese Castle, there are some sites of great interest.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception, whose imposing dome is noticed by the entire city of Ischia and inside which there is a door through which one reaches the Convent of the Poor Clares. The founder of the convent was the Neapolitan noblewoman Beatrice Quadra, widow of d'Avalos, in 1575. Beneath the Church of the Immaculate Conception is the Cemetery of the Poor Clares. According to the rite, admittedly a very macabre one, the nuns, after their death, instead of being buried, were seated on masonry chairs that had underneath a perforated clay pot called a "drainer." As the flesh slowly decomposed, the other nuns meditated on the fragility of human life and death. Having consumed the meat and disconnected the skeleton, the bones were piled up in an enclosure.

We then find the Cathedral of the Assumption, which was built in 1300, when the inhabitants of Geronda, located in the present pine forest, moved to the Castle because of the eruption of Epomeo. In 1509 the wedding of Fernando Francesco d'Avalos and Vittoria Colonna was celebrated there. After being hit by cannon fire from the British in 1809, the Cathedral of the Assumption currently stands as an open space that hosts numerous events. Below, there is the Gentile Crypt consisting of a central vaulted room surrounded perimeterally by 7 barrel-vaulted chapels. Each chapel represented one of the noble families that inhabited the islet and is decorated with frescoes of the Giotto school. Finally, there is the orthogonal Church of San Pietro a Pantaniello, which dates from the Renaissance period and retains all its architectural grace.

One last curiosity about the Aragonese Castle: in 1952 some scenes from the U.S. film The Green Island Corsair starring Burt Lancaster were filmed inside.