The castle is in a spectacular location on the borders of the town of Ortona, overhanging the blue Adriatic Sea. Its origins in the fifteenth century (1452) stem from the Aragonese domination of Abruzzo. It was built with a trapezoidal base with four cylindrical angular towers and scant decorative elements, a very common type of fort at the time.  

A noble palace was built within the castle walls in 1700 for residential use. In the nineteenth century, the construction fell into disuse and since it was abandoned, it was used as a powder magazine for many years. That is, until World War II, when the castle was bombed in the infamous Battle of Ortona.  

The arms and ammunition kept inside the palace exploded and the structure was irreparably damaged. In 1946, due to this weakened structure, the part perched on the hill collapsed and the fort lost one of its four towers. Thanks to projects initiated in 2001 by the Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici ed il Paesaggio dell'Aquila, the castle is now accessible again.  

On the inside, there is nothing left besides the garden. In the west tower there is a small museum with vintage photos and furnishings belonging to the noble families that used to own the castle. From the open views and windows left intact in the east tower, one can enjoy an extraordinary panorama looking out over the sea.

Further information

Rai Radio 3 - Le Meraviglie - Castello Aragonese di Ortona raccontato da Franco Farinelli

(Translation by Paula Qefaliaj and Matthew Prisco)