Castello Aragonese

Castello Aragonese is a fortress on a small island at the entrance to the bay of Taranto, in Puglia. It was rebuilt under Aragonese rule in the late 1400s on older Greek, Byzantine and Norman remains, and the Italian Navy still uses part of it. The castle is open to the public through free guided tours led by Navy personnel, given in Italian. Photography is allowed inside and outside, and the sunset over the water is one of the best times to be there.

From Aragonese fortress to Navy site

The castle sits on the island of Borgo Antico, at the entrance to the bay that surrounds the city. It guards the navigable canal, and the walls and towers that survive today were built under Ferdinand of Aragon in the late 1400s.

The site was not new then. The Aragonese builders worked on the remains of an earlier Norman structure, which itself rested on a citadel the Byzantines had built to defend against the Saracens. Recent excavations have uncovered traces of older Greek fortifications, some from the 4th century BC.

Later, the castle was used to store guns until the early 1700s. The Habsburgs then turned it into a prison. Today it is occupied by the Italian Navy, but it remains open to the public.

Inside the castle

The most distinct interior feature is the Renaissance chapel of San Leonardo, which sits among the older remains. Models displayed inside show how the fortress and its surroundings were laid out.

Visitors may photograph the interior, the models and the surrounding walls. From the outer walls, the view across the water is the main reason many people linger, especially as the light drops.

The castle is not accessible on your own. You enter only with the Navy guide, so plan your photos for the parts of the tour and the outside areas that are open to you.