Castellammare di Stabia is a small town in the Gulf of Naples, shaped as a natural bowl among the hills, into an extremely fertile area, rich in mineral waters.

Castellammare di Stabia is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania region, in southern Italy. It is situated on the Bay of Naples about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Naples, on the route to Sorrento.

HIGLIGHTS

Castellammare was built over the ruins of the ancient Stabiae: a delightful village totally destroyed in 79 AC by the violent eruption of the volcano Vesuvio, which buried even Pompeii and Herculaneum.

According to many opinions, the name derives from the medieval castle that overlooks the Gulf of Naples. The castle, which is now situated along the state highway to Sorrento, nearby the sanctuary of Madonna della Libera, was built by the Sorrentines, in order to protect their own duchy.

It was renewed under the kingdom of Frederick II of Swabia and subsequently enlarged by Charles I of Anjou, and erroneously called “Castello Angioino”. Today the castle is a private property and can be admired only from outside. The name of the town derives actually from the position of the castle: on a promontory at about 100 metres above the sea, Castello a Mare means indeed “Castle on the Sea”.

Thermal centre renowned since 1800, the water patrimony of Castellammare di Stabia is its first sustenance. The thermal baths must be mentioned because of their great importance: besides lovely days of water tasting, these amazing Spas offer therapeutic treatments and cultural events, too.

The ancient archaeological finds of Stabiae, along with the charming architecture, the numerous churches, and the wonderful works of art of the old town centre make Castellammare di Stabia a perfect place for a relaxing vacation for the ones who love a bit of cultural excursions besides amazing beaches and fully equipped resorts.

Actually Castellammare is one of the cities with the highest number of tourist presences in hotels, holiday villas and B&B: this amazing result is due to its strategic position, nearby internationally known tourist places like Pompeii and Sorrento, but much cheaper than them.

The Cathedral of Castellammare, located in Piazza Quartuccio, has been object of many restyling works throughout the years, as it got heavily damaged from the earthquake of 1436. The works lasted from 1587 to 1875, when the chapel dedicated to the Patron Saint, St Catello, was finally ready, and the bishop Sarnelli consecrated it. You will be able to admire notable paintings of Giuseppe Bonito and Nunzio Rossi. A beautiful chapel in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes and the chapel of Santissimo Sacramento, with a war memorial. Every year, for Christmas, the believers set up a gorgeous crib with human height statues.

The sanctuary of Madonna della Libera is situated on the mount St Cataldo and is now presided by Capuchin Friars. The church is a modest building, without any relevant or historically important elements, except of the major altar that holds a fresco on the rock dedicated to the Virgin, dated back to the XII century. Every 18th of the month the inhabitants of Castellammare celebrate this important effigy.

Do not miss two food festivals close by the sanctuary:

•  “Sagra dell’Acqua della Madonna e del Biscotto di Castellammare”  dedicated to the water and typical local biscuits, made with white flour, sugar, vanilla, leavened dough, water and butter and have a special long shape. 
• “Sagra delle Camarelle” – is celebrated in September, when you could taste typical dishes, like pasta and beans and the fantastic local honey.

Excavation of villas

The excavation of Roman villas preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 is currently underway. Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco can be visited and do not charge for admission.

The thermal baths

Castellammare is known as the Metropole of the waters for its hydrological heritage of 28 different kinds of waters, divided in sulphurous, calcic bicarbonate and mineral water, each one with a particular healthy property. The thermal bath has been a huge part of the economic life as well as of the tourism of Castellammare since the XIX century. To take advantage of the waters’ property there are two different thermal baths, one in the historical centre of the town and the other on the hill. Besides, the two most important waters of Castellammare, Acqua della Madonna and Acetosella, have been known since the time of Pliny the Elder, who suggested to drink them in case of calculosis, today they are sold as far away as America.

The ancient thermal baths

The Ancient Thermal Baths were inaugurated in 1836 and since the beginning had a very important role for the citizens and also for the tourists coming in summer for the thermal cure, making the city very crowded. Because of this overcrowding the building was enlarged with new pavilions and pools for the thermal cures of the body, like a real spa but it was also a cultural centre where many art exhibitions, cultural events and concerts were held. On 26 February 1956 began the destruction of the ancient building to make way for today’s building. At the end of the 1980s the thermal building was in crisis because most of its offered treatments were closed, even if today they are offered in the New Thermal Baths. Today the Ancient Baths opens only few hours a day for bathing. In summer there are some cultural events. In the summer of 2007 the renovation of the building began so it can resume the many thermal services.

The new thermal baths

The New Thermal Baths, located on the hill of the Solaro, near the district of Scanzano, was inaugurated on 26 July 1964. This building has two zones: one zone is the building dedicated to the thermal cure and then there is the park for the hydroponic cure. The building for the thermal cure offers the chance of practicing physiotherapy, hyperbaric medicine, massages, mud baths, inhalation of the sulphurous waters, rehabilitating, dermatological, aesthetic and gynaecological cures. Instead the hydroponic park allows practicing hydrotherapy, that is drinking the specific kind of water to cure specific pathologies, while walking through the park. Moreover, in summer in the park there are many events, during mornings and evenings, such as concerts, open cinema, exhibitions and conventions.

Geography

Castellammare borders with the municipalities of Gragnano, Pimonte, Pompei, Santa Maria la Carità, Torre Annunziata and Vico Equense.^[4]

It counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Fratte, Madonna della Libera, Pioppaino, Ponte Persica, Pozzano, Privati, Quisisana, Scanzano and Varano.