Ischia is more than sunny beaches and spas and it would be a shame to leave this island without having seen the Castello Aragonese in Ischia Ponte.
- bus stop: Ischia Porto and then bus 7 (but if you don’t mind walking you can also go on foot in about 15 min)
- entrance fee: €10,00 (well-spent)
- duration of the visit: 1-2 hours
The current structure of the castle is the work of the Alfonso V of Aragon (thus giving it his name): he expanded the existing castle built in the days of the domination by the House of Anjou and connected it to the mainland by a wooden bridge which was subsequently replaced by the current stone one. Having crossed this long stone bridge with romantic streetlights you pass the main gate and hit the ticket office. Once you have your ticket you can start to explore… guided by a map with useful information about what you will get to see (indicated by numbers). At that point you have two options: you can either take the elevator which takes you to the beginning of the walk described on that little map or you can go on foot (to –in that case- find yourself at the end of that walk). One or the other… this is the view that awaits:
For me this fortress was simply mind-blowing, from the moment I set eyes on it and even more when I entered this miniature city. Since the Castello Aragonese is so well preserved you really feel thrown back in time, walking in the footsteps of medieval princes, dukes and monks.
I will let my pictures do the rest of the talking because, as they say, pictures say more than words:
Walkeattalk.it 
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