Castellammare di Stabia

That's the view from the roadside restaurant at diner time in the Castellammare di Stabia. The island is the edge of Capri, beautiful place unto itself. We are looking out at the Gulf of Naples. Another angle and we have a fantastic broadside of Mt Vesuvius. Not the most nameworthy spot but the city is a comune, Italian for self governing municipality, of Naples and resides on the northern edge of the Sorrento Peninsula.

Castellammare is Italian and means "castle by the sea" or "sea fortress". Stabia comes from the Latin Stabiae which was the original name of the area. It was the adoptive home of Pliny the Elder, a Roman intellect who perished in the Mt Vesuvius eruption on 25 August AD 79. The area was an unknown to us but due to a tour cancellation it was recommended by the concierge at our hotel. I think our photos show we made the right choice.

We were in Castellammare for only a few hours but long enough to be introduced to the area and to get a parking ticket. After the trip research uncovered quite a bit more info such as the meaning of Castellammare. There is a Castello Medioevale, meaning "Medieval Castle" and first shows up in recorded history in 1086. Although built by the Duke of Sorrento as a fortress today, and it overlooks the sea, its used for events such as weddings, business meetings and conferences.

With its proximity to Sorrento, Amalfi, Naples and Vesuvius, its a great stop. Roman Villas, thermal baths, great vistas and more, we want to spend more time there. Visit our website for more images:

Castellammare di Stabia