In 474 BC the Greek Gerone of Syrakus, who came to the aid of the people of Cumae in their war against the Tyrrhenians, had the first fortress constructed on an islet some 200 metres off the island of Ischia. After Gerone the Partenopeans took possession of the island and later the Romans, whose nobility came to Ischia seeking thermal cures, but also Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Arabians, Normans, and the Anjous left their traces and transformed the original fortress.

When the last volcanic eruption destroyed the village of Geronda in 1301 thousands of people fled to the rock. In 1440 Alfonso of Aragon ordered the construction of most parts of the Castle, as we know it still today; and he joined the rock with the main island by means of the first wooden bridge.
At the beginning of the 18th century the citadel was home to almost 2,000 families, besides the monastery of the Poor Clares, the abbey of the Basilians of Greece, the bishop with the prebendary, seven parishes with 13 churches and the garrison. In 1809 the Castle was besieged by the British under Nelson and almost completely destroyed. The last inhabitants left the rock in 1823, when the castle was transformed into a prison for political opponents.

Under the cathedral lies the crypt with frescoes originating from the school of Giotto of the 14th century with a side room discovered during restauratins works in winter 2001 with even older frescoes. To the left of the Cathedral lies the baroque church of the Immaculate Conception constructed for the Poor Clares. Its impressing cupola dominates the silhouette of the rock. Behind the church one arrives to the courtyard of the monastery of the Poor Clares, founded in 1575. From the courtyard stairs lead down into the 16th century cemetery of the nuns, who were “buried” in a very particular way.

Returning to the right of the Cathedral one enters into the “House of the Sun” where local artists show their works. Passing through the building one discovers the “other” side of the castle: shady lanes lead along small chapels, vineyards, acres and orchards, until you arrive to the prisons of 1823. A wall plate reminds some of the fighters for Italian liberty imprisoned here. The tour continues towards a beautiful terrace with a unique view of the neighbour island Procida, the bay of Naples, the coast of Ischia and the heart of the antique citadel, which cannot be visited.A snack bar with a nice terrace invites to a small rest before returning into the “modern” world.
Open April to November: 09:00 am to sunset.

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