Italiano
CITY OF 28 SOURCES AND TWO TOURIST PORTS
by Dario Lari
City of waters with 28 springs, spas, archaeological excavations, Monte Faito, sea, two marinas, Regio Cantiere Borbonico today called Fincantieri, with ancient culinary traditions. Gate of the Sorrento Peninsula, a few steps away from Pompeii and a few nautical miles away from Capri, halfway between Naples and Salerno, about 30 km from Naples Capodichino airport. Castellammare di Stabia, city of tourism. A unique location, where history and culture, sea and mountains, traditions and folklore merge. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean, it enjoys a magnificent panorama between the sea and Vesuvius.
Its strategic position has been exploited historically. The Romans settled in the ancient Stabiae, a village already populated since the eighth century BC, under the influence of Greeks, Etruscans and Samnites. The favorable climate, the fertile volcanic soils of the entire Ager Stabianus and the abundance of water quickly made Stabia grow, after it had been one of the cities buried and destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, told by Plinio from the Stabia shore of the Gulf.
The archaeological evidence is clearly visible in the excavations of the luxurious Roman villas. In 1086 it appears for the first time the name of Castrum ad Mare, but first with the Aragonese and Farnese, then with the Bourbons (who had one of the royal residences in the Reggia di Quisisana) the prestige of Castellammare di Stabia grows, between the goals of Grand Tour is also remembered by Gustave Flaubert and Madame Bovary. Among the first Italian railway stations, it boasts the oldest shipyard in Italy, where the Amerigo Vespucci Nave School was built.
Since the 50’s a favorite destination for spa tourism, with two plants – Old and New, now under renovation – with 28 different sources of mineral water.
Today Castellammare di Stabia is known for its two marinas – Marina di Stabia and Stabia Main Port – landings for luxury nabobs for tours between Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
Marina di Stabia
Marina di Stabia is a new generation marina, with 1400 berths from 8 meters up to 85 meters, combining a modern, elegant and efficient style. Designed by Conti & Associati, Marina di Stabia boasts 1500 parking spaces with car parks and guarded areas, a modern nautical workplace, with dock for repairs and 3 slipways and launches. The modern yacht club with swimming pool, solarium and restaurant with star chef, is the flagship of the modern marina, which has become a reference point for Italian and foreign customers, both local and international. Inside the marina there are a gym area and basketball pitches, the control tower with adjoining bar area.
Stabia Main Port
Stabia Main Port is the result of the reconversion of the ancient Bourbon basin located in the center of the city of Castellammare di Stabia, as a safe landing place for superyachts and giga yachts with the possibility of mooring stern units from 24 to 85 meters and alongside units even over 150 meters with a draft of 9 meters and a large rotation space for the maneuvers of the superyachts. Thanks to the synergy with the area’s clubs, guests of Stabia Main Port can enjoy a few steps from the quayside facilities like the tennis court, gym, spa and swimming pool. A few meters from the port there are post office, banks, tobacco shops, bars, restaurants, pizzerias, mini-markets, cinema, theatre and shopping areas. In a few minutes one can reach the station (15 minutes from Sorrento, 10 minutes from Pompeii, 40 minutes from Naples) and the cableway which also leads to Monte Faito at night.
Monte Faito – Cableway
Mount Faito is part of the Lattari mountains and is the green lung that dominates Castellammare di Stabia. Its peak is 1131 meters high and the inhabited area, with clubs, restaurants, bars and hotels, can be reached from the center of Castellammare di Stabia, thanks to the cableway, for the whole summer period – from April to October. An evocative journey that lasts less than 10 minutes, suspended on a breathtaking view. Inaugurated on 24th of August 1952, the Faito cableway connects the town of Castellammare di Stabia with Monte, which has always been a holiday destination, a destination for recreation especially during the summer, for hundreds of inhabitants of the surrounding areas. The plant was completely renovated in the 90s and recently renovated, to make it even safer and more functional. Every 30 minutes, from the morning to the evening, it runs for the transport of about 30 passengers. Between July and September, there are additional rides until evening.
Scavi di Stabia
Stabiae, today’s Castellammare di Stabia, was one of the favorite destinations of Roman patricians, so much that its territory was dotted with numerous residential villas. Discovered in 1749 by the Bourbon excavators, Stabiae, from the beginning, distinguished itself as a place of excellence: frescoes, statues and precious furnishings were collected in the Bourbon Museum. In 1950, two villas, Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna were partially brought to light by the dean Libero D’Orsi. The two other villas can be visited every day and one can appreciate the design skills of the Roman architects who created them with daring technical solutions and perfectly incorporating the villas into the landscape. Today, the Stabiae site is in the middle of a major international project, with a traveling exhibition that has collected around 200 artifacts that travel around the world in various museums, starting with the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Shipyards
The shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia, founded in 1783, is the oldest Italian factory, as well as the oldest and longest shipyard in Italy. Even today it is an important part of the economy in Stabia and is managed by Fincantieri. Always at the forefront of the use of new technologies developed over the years, the shipyard saw the light with the Bourbons, who transferred the Royal Arsenal to Castellammare di Stabia, then the construction of war vessels. Enlarged by Gioacchino Murat, it began to produce more ships, even though over the years it saw the birth of numerous boats of different types including war ships and freight or passenger transport. Together with those of Ancona and Palermo, it is currently reserved for the construction of transport ships. Among the most important ships launched in the shipyard we find first of all the Amerigo Vespucci, navy school ship, but also the 3 Caio Duilio, the Vittorio Veneto, up to the most recent Cruise Rome and Cruise Barcelona ferries, the largest of the Mediterranean Sea. The completion of the Batiscafo Trieste by Auguste Piccard should also be mentioned.
Municipal villa and beaches
The Villa Comunale of Castellammare di Stabia is now a point of reference for the “out and about” of the city. Dozens of bars and restaurants overlook the seafront of the Stabiae, an indispensable walk for those who live or visit the city. The Villa was built in the second half of the nineteenth century from the material resulting from the demolition of the old defensive wall that surrounded the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the project of the architect Eugenio Cosenza, the Triton Fountain was built. Among the most characteristic structures there is the Cassarmonica, or musical pavilion, inaugurated on April 28 1900, several times renovated and now being restyled. However, the bathing beaches are located in the Pozzano area, where there are dozens of locations where you can dive into a clear water. Some beaches are also equipped with sulphurous water showers.
Where to eat
In Castellammare di Stabia there are several places where you can eat well, especially fish dishes and gourmet pizza. It starts from the Chalet Mariarosaria, a characteristic place that rises in the area of the sources of the Acqua della Madonna, in the little port district. Not far from Stabia Main Port, it serves salads and typical seafood dishes at reasonable prices. Sea, land and gourmet pizza, however, are the specialties that can be tasted at the pizza restaurant Le Tre Vele, located in the city center of Castellammare di Stabia. A dip in traditions, with a touch of creativity and products of excellence that make both first and second courses unique, as well as traditional pizza. Finally, for those who love the starred restaurants, behind the promenade of the municipal villa, there is the restaurant Piazzetta Milu, one Michelin Star, recognition achieved for the second consecutive year, with chef Luigi Salomone leading the kitchen brigade in the location of the Izzo family.
Piazzetta Milu
Corso A. De Gasperi, 23
Castellammare di Stabia (NA)
081 871 5779
www.piazzettamilu.it
Le Tre Vele
Via Padre Massimiliano Kolbe, 24
Castellammare di Stabia (NA)
Ph. +39 08118497020
Mobile +39 3668967339
info@letrevele.com
www.letrevele.com
Chalet Mariarosaria
Via Caio Duilio (Acqua della Madonna)
Castellammare di Stabia
www.chaletristobar.it
