[July 2024] The Aragonese Castle, located across the causeway from Ischia Ponte, an old town on the island of Ischia in southern Italy, was built in 474 BC.
I think it’s amazing that such an old castle has not become a ruin and remains as a building that can still be visited today.
Of course, it has since passed into the hands of all kinds of powers and has been renovated.
In 1301, Mount Epomeo, the highest mountain on Ischia, erupted, and the surrounding residents fled into the castle, and a small town was formed.
It probably wasn’t called the Aragonese Castle at that time.
In 1441, Alfonso V of Aragon rebuilt the castle and strengthened its defences.
The community centred on this castle flourished at the end of the 16th century, when 1,892 families lived there and there were many monasteries and churches.
After that, it was used as a prison and after many twists and turns, it was purchased by a private individual in 1911.
The owner had worked on it and I was surprised to find that now part of it has been turned into a hotel.
Inside the castle, modern art exhibitions are held, making it a very stylish space.
The space labelled “Bookstore” is a shop selling handmade crafts, and you can buy high-quality souvenirs.
However, some old things remain as they were.
For example, there was a crypt that looked like a row of toilets, where the bodies of nuns are said to be buried.
Since there is a hotel, there is of course a cafe as well.
We had a pleasant time at the cafe on the terrace with a great view.
On the way there, we took the lift up to the castle, but on the way back, we decided to walk.
There are a ton of things to see along the way, and one of them we stopped off at was the Cathedral of Assunta.
This place is now completely ruined.
After the volcanic eruption, it was built as a temporary residence for the cathedral on the main island, and was remodelled in the 15th and 18th centuries, eventually becoming a Baroque-style church.
However, it was destroyed by bombardment by the British army in 1809.
Travelling around and learning about history like this shows how rough and uncouth the British are.
They are good at promoting the image of Victorian gentlemen and ladies to the world, though.
In the basement of the ruins of this cathedral, there is a chapel built in the 11th and 12th centuries that has been turned into a crypt, which is worth seeing.
There are many beautiful frescoes remaining.
It has been quite damaged over the years, but that’s also a part of beauty.
According to the pamphlet I was given, a major restoration project is underway.
