Nights in an old monk’s cell in Hotel Il Monastero on the Castello Aragonese on Ischia. Rooms with a view of Ischia Ponte and the bay in an oasis of tranquility. And my own keys to the castle! How about that?!! Special nights to remember!
Almost missed the last boat from Naples
The arrival on Ischia was late. We had one off the last ferry boats from Naples to Ischia, the aliscafo’s run more often but we had a car with us, so then you have to take a ferry, traghetto in Italiano. From Ischia Porto it’s about 10 minutes to the little and cheap parkingplace on the border of Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte. From there we continued our trip with a lovely micro taxi (one most of the funny ways to see the Island), to Ischia Ponte, where the Castelo Aragonese is located. Normally this is a nice little walk I love to do, but well, after a long, second, day of driving through Italia, racing to catch the boat and with all those suitcases and still 30 degrees,… I don’t think so! At moments like that I prefer the luxery of a taxi. You may call me lazy!
No, no, signora, non posso arrivare al Castello stasera,…c’è una festa
Well, there was, of course especially on this evening of arrival, a village festival going on in Ischia Ponte. The timing could not have been any worse, because when therse is a festa they close the streets for cars. When I told the tassista we needed to go to the Castello Aragonese he started to shake his head. “No possibile,..la festa!” I know from experience that Italians, especially taxi drivers, first often say that something is impossible and then they will try anything to achieve their goal. So for our taxi driver quite a challenge to get through the little street to the Castello Aragonese. After some Italian, passionate curses and wild arm gestures, but oooh sooo very funny, the older driver finally dropped us off in front of the main gate of the Caste Aragonese. I can tell you, this little trip was very entertaining because we were part of the Italian street life and we actually felt sorry we had to leave the taxi.
Hotel in the top of the castle
After we passed the main gate from the Castello there you go through a long corridor, a kind of vault where the smells like the Middle Ages (I think), then, thank God, there is the elevator up to the albergo (The hotel is at 80 meters above sea level). But then you still have to take a couple of stairs. Normally not a problem, but……. if you’re equipped with handbag, two heavy suitcases and a hat in your hand that you necessarily had to take with you,…quite a a challenge. If you arrive during normal opening hours at the castle, like normal people do, then there is staff to get your luggage up to your room. So, don’t worry!!! Fortunately, the owner himself came around the corner to take my bags. I saw the confused look in his eyes when he picked up the suitcases, as if he thought that I was smuggeling in an extra person.
The hotel is an oasis of tranquility
Once I was in the albergo and on the way to my room I passed hidden corners with beautiful lamps, candles and art. There are blue wooden doors in the corridors and I was impressed by the paintings hanging everywhere. From the moment I entered the hotel I felled an oasis of tranquility. I had booked one of their most basic rooms because the rest was forgiven. And yes, the room was basic, no TV or radio, but spotlessly clean. I loved the tiles in the bathroom, matching colors with the blue doors,…details, love it.
Rooms with a view of Ischia Ponte and the bay
First thing I always do in a hotel is run to the window to see how the view is. This room had patio doors that opened directly to the terrace of the hotel with spectacular views everywhere. Beautiful, there it was, the view on Ischia Ponte and the bay. A beautiful experence to see the Ischia from this side, especially at night. Usually I always looked at the Castello Aragonese from Ischia itself. The Island seemed to be dancing because of all the lights. Little boats were simmering in the bay and the rest lay bobbing on the gentle swell of the water. The fact that there was a festa in Ischia Ponte made it even more fairytale lookalike. Festive lighting through the streets and also the bridge to the castle was decorated with fairy lights and was even more beautiful than usual.
My own key to the castle
I found it exciting the first evening to get back to the castle late a night. Walking over the little bridge to the Castello, standing in front of the closed gate, take my own keys and unlock and lock the gate of the castle. And yes, of course, it happened to me that I could not open the lock.
