# The Castiglione Coast **At a glance:** The Castiglione coastal strip is the eastern stretch of the Casamicciola Terme coastline, towards the boundary with the municipality of Ischia. Here the springs of the Castiglione basin rise close to the sea at around 70 °C, feeding thermal parks and small beaches. Behind them rise Monte Rotaro and the Bosco della Maddalena. ## Useful information - **Type:** Area - **Coordinates:** 40.746900, 13.926900 - **Where:** Eastern coast of Casamicciola, towards the boundary with Ischia - **Thermal basin:** Castiglione (springs near the sea, around 70 °C) - **Thermal parks:** Castiglione, 'O Vagnitiello - **Beaches:** Bagnitielli; further west, Monastery Beach (Perrone) - **History:** Bronze Age village on the Castiglione hill ## Where it is The Castiglione coastal strip occupies the eastern side of the municipality of Casamicciola Terme, almost on the boundary with Ischia. It stretches between the Castiglione hill, the Bagnitiello hill and the sea; to the west, towards the centre and the harbour, lies the Perrone area. Looking inland from the coast, you can make out the profile of [Monte Rotaro](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-rotaro/). ## The Castiglione basin The [Castiglione basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-thermal-basin/) covers more than 4,000 m² between the Castiglione and Bagnitiello hills and the beach. Its springs, such as the [Castiglione spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-spring/) and the [Bagnitiello spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/bagnitiello-spring/), rise close to the sea, near the rock of the same name, at a temperature of around 70 °C. The waters are clear, with a rather salty taste, and rich in sodium chloride, sulphates and alkaline bicarbonates. Along this coast there are also fumaroles that appear to form a single system with the hot springs. ## Thermal parks and the sea The waters of the basin feed two thermal parks overlooking the sea: the [Castiglione Thermal Park](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-thermal-park/), on Via Castiglione, and the ['O Vagnitiello Thermal Park](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/o-vagnitiello-thermal-park/), on Via Vicinale Bagnitiello. Among the area's coves is [Bagnitielli Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/bagnitielli-beach/); closer to the centre, in the Perrone area, is [Monastery Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/monastery-beach-spiaggia-del-convento/). ## History The Castiglione hill is one of the oldest inhabited places on the island: excavations here have documented a village of huts with features of the Apennine culture, dating from between the Middle Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. According to local tradition, the Greek settlers who reached Ischia in the 8th century BC were also drawn by the hot waters of this coast. In the Perrone area stands the [Church and Monastery of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-monastery-san-gabriele-addolorata/), while between Perrone and Castiglione is the [Church of Sant'Antonio da Padova](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-sant-antonio-da-padova/) (St Anthony of Padua). ## Nature and trails From Castiglione you can climb towards the wooded Rotaro area: the [Maddalena Trail](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/maddalena-trail/) crosses the [Bosco della Maddalena](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/maddalena-wood-bosco-della-maddalena/) (Maddalena Wood), which grew on the products of eruptions over the last 10,000 years, and La Grotta is also in the area. ## Tips for your visit For the thermal parks, check opening periods and access arrangements in advance on the establishments' official websites. The free-flowing springs by the sea are very hot: approach them with care. ## Frequently asked questions ### Where is Castiglione in Casamicciola? On the eastern coast of the municipality, almost on the boundary with Ischia. It is the area of the seaside thermal parks and the springs of the Castiglione basin. ### How hot are the Castiglione springs? The springs of the basin rise close to the sea at around 70 °C. The waters are clear and rather salty. ### Are there beaches in the Castiglione area? Yes, small beaches and coves such as the Bagnitielli. Towards the centre, in the Perrone area, is Monastery Beach. ## Also worth seeing - [Castiglione Thermal Basin](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-thermal-basin/) - [Castiglione Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-spring/) - [Bagnitiello Spring](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/bagnitiello-spring/) - [Castiglione Thermal Park](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/castiglione-thermal-park/) - ['O Vagnitiello Thermal Park](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/thermal-spas/o-vagnitiello-thermal-park/) - [Bagnitielli Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/bagnitielli-beach/) - [Monastery Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/monastery-beach-spiaggia-del-convento/) - [Church and Monastery of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-monastery-san-gabriele-addolorata/) - [Church of Sant'Antonio da Padova](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-sant-antonio-da-padova/) - [Bosco della Maddalena (Maddalena Wood)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/maddalena-wood-bosco-della-maddalena/) - [Maddalena Trail (Sentiero della Maddalena)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/maddalena-trail/) - [Monte Rotaro](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/nature/monte-rotaro/) ## Sources and further reading - [Ischia: i bacini idrotermali di Casamicciola – Hotel La Maggioressa](https://www.hotellamaggioressa.com/it/ischia/) - [Casamicciola Terme – Discover Campania](https://discovercampania.it/en/the-territory-ischia/ischia-island/comuni/196-casamicciola-terme) - [Ischia – Il complesso del Rotaro – Osservatorio Vesuviano INGV](https://www.ov.ingv.it/index.php/ischia-storia-eruttiva/attivita-ultimi-10ka/complesso-del-rotaro) - [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)