Official Information
Official site: https://www.castelloaragoneseischia.com/
Tickets & Visitor Info: Find opening times, tariffs, and online ticket purchase under Programma la tua visita / Plan your visit on the castle website.
Address: Spartaia, Ponte Aragonese, 80077 Ischia (NA), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Open daily for most of the year from 09:00 until sunset, with last entry approximately 1.5 hours before closing. The castle closes for annual maintenance for several weeks in winter (typically after Epiphany); café and bookshop may have slightly different hours. Always confirm current times on the official website before visiting.
The Aragonese Castle dominates the landscape of Ischia, perched on a rocky islet linked to the main island by a causeway. More than a single fortress, it is a self-contained historic village, layered with centuries of occupation from Greek origins to medieval defenses and Renaissance structures. Entry is via a tunnel or elevator carved in the rock, leading to winding paths among chapels, gardens, ruined cathedrals, convents, military bastions, and exhibitions about the castle’s tumultuous past. Informational signage and small museum rooms reveal how the Aragonese complex functioned as a refuge during pirate attacks and as both a defensive stronghold and a show of power for local rulers. The most memorable aspect is the setting: panoramic terraces offer views over the Bay of Naples, Ischia Ponte, and as far as Capri and the Sorrentine Peninsula. Lush Mediterranean gardens provide shady respites among the stone walls. You can tour at your own pace following signed routes, allow two to three hours if you want to linger or take photos. There are cafés and a small hotel-restaurant where you can relax with drinks or a meal overlooking the sea. Note that much of the route involves stairs and uneven footpaths, so comfortable shoes are recommended and some areas may be inaccessible to those with limited mobility. Ticket sales are at the entrance and, during some periods, available online. Opening times shift seasonally and with sunset; check the official site before planning a visit, especially in winter when maintenance works may close the site for several weeks.