CASTELLAMMARE
Castellammare di Stabia is a town located in the southern part of the Gulf of Naples, in an area between the end of the Vesuvius and the Sorrento peninsula. It overlooks the sea and has rich and fertile plains and streams. The area of Castellammare di Stabia was inhabited as early as the eighth century BC. The settlement, which at the time was called Stabiae, was under the control of the Samnites, the Etruscans and the Greeks. Then in 340 BC it became a Roman territory and during this period that the city flourished and the Romans built walls around it to make it a village. Also in this period a temple was built, dedicated to Hercules who according to the Roman myth, was its founder.
What to visit
The religious architecture in Castellammare di Stabia is fantastic and there are about 50 churches, including the main one, Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta, that during the Christmas period has a very impressive nativity scene, with statuettes dating back to 1600. Among the civil architecture not to be missed is the Reggia di Quisiana, which dominates the city and is made up of three buildings. Inside there is an Italian garden and Palazzo Farnese which is today the Town Hall. Castellammare di Stabia has a medieval castle, built by the Sorrentines to defend the duchy. It always played a defensive role until the eighteenth century when it began to decline. There are many squares and museums in the city, which offer the tourist moments of cultural exploration and leisure.