Castellammare di Stabia is a splendid town overlooking the Gulf of Naples, located between the end of the Vesuvian area and the beginning of the Sorrento peninsula. Due to its particular geographical position it enjoys a mild climate all year round. It is also a first-rate archaeological and thermal center and is an excellent starting point for visiting other sites of interest such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples; but also the Sorrento coast or the Amalfi coast.
Castellammare di Stabia is a tourist resort that adapts very well to any type of visitor and that satisfies the various needs widely. In fact, from couples to families, passing through younger children, anyone who arrives in the town and wants to spend a cultural holiday without renouncing the sea, the sun and fun, can find what he is looking for.
The visit of the town can start from Piazza Monumento, one of the historical squares of the town, which overlooks the waterfront. After a visit to the Villa Comunale (main park of Castellammare), you continue towards Marina Grande, the historic district of the town, always skirting the sea, until you reach Piazza Cristoforo Colombo, an other square known by all as Piazza Orologio for the presence of a tower with above a clock.
You then arrive in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, one of the main squares of the town, where the cathedral and the town hall are located. The seafront is full of kiosks where you can taste the classic Campania caponata, or a fry of excellent fresh fish, all accompanied by the typical local drink, “Acetosella“. Or you can buy a good ice cream in one of the many ice cream parlors in the town. You should also try the typical biscuits covered with a sugar glaze and the delicious “gallette“, known to have been destined for the supply of the crews of military ships in the Angevin era.
Still in the port area, an inevitable stop is Piazza Fontana Grande, which overlooks the foot of the hill on which the castle stands, which gave the town its name. In the center of the square you can admire a votive shrine with the Madonna di Pozzano and San Catello, the patron saint of Castellammare, and below it there is a semicircular colonnade that encloses the fountain that gave the square its name. Next to the colonnade stands the church of the Holy Spirit and the Marchese Palace.
The castle played a fundamental role for the town. Formerly used as a defensive fortification, it became subject to Spanish domination over the centuries and was then ceded to some local noble families. Today the ancient walls that surrounded it are no longer visible, completed by a watchtower. This ancient castle was very important, because it touched the sea and it is therefore from here that the town took the name of Castellammare.
Among the various attractions of Castellammare di Stabia we find the excavations of Stabia, a wonderful archaeological site that offers two well-preserved Roman villas: Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco, of considerable value and beauty and from which you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. The excavations of Varano are another exceptional place that represents a leap into the past and the way of life of the wealthiest Romans of the time; recent discoveries have been made here that further enhance this wonderful location in the province of Naples.
For those who love the sea, the most famous beaches in the area are the Famous Beach and the Stone Beach. The first is a mixture of fine gravel and sand and is located on a stretch of open sea coast. There are cliffs that separate the beach into various coves, some suitable for relaxing and sunbathing; in addition, the water is always very clear and clean thanks to the particular currents. Take advantage of the on-site stay for a visit to the spa. The Stabian baths are in fact famous all over the world for their beneficial, invigorating and healthy qualities. Historically they represent the main tourist attraction of the town; we must also not forget the local water sources, so renowned as to be exported everywhere.
Castellammare di Stabia can be reached by various means of transport: car, train, plane or by sea. To get there by car you need to take the A3 Napoli – Salerno – Reggio Calabria motorway to the Castellammare di Stabia exit; by train, however, you need to take the Napoli – Gragnano line and get off at the Castellammare di Stabia stop. In addition, the city is only 10 km from the town of Lettere.
