Abruzzo. Ortona, have you already visited the wonderful Aragonese Castle?

The Aragonese Castle of Ortona, built in the 15th century, stands on the promontory called “La Pizzuta”, which falls overhanging the sea, from which it dominates the articulated and suggestive Adriatic coast.

Over the centuries, it underwent various modifications and renovations. Originally the manor had a trapezoidal plan, not exactly regular, with cylindrical towers, highly sloping, at the corners, according to the Aragonese scheme widespread throughout the south.

The only entrance to the castle, with a round arch and completely devoid of decorative elements, is located about halfway up the southwest tower. The western side is somewhat domed, while the eastern side overlooks the harbour.

The wall is made up of irregularly hewn stones, pebbles and bricks. During the last world war, the manor suffered heavy bombings and, in 1946, due to a landslide, it lost a good part of the north-west walls. Of the four original towers, only three remain today.

In the summer of 2009, after a long and complex restoration work, which involved the complete rebuilding of the walls and the restructuring of the garden and its paths, it was reopened to the public.