# La Sentinella **At a glance:** La Sentinella is the hilly area of upper Casamicciola, divided into Grande and Piccola Sentinella and overlooking the gulf. After 1883 Giulio Grablovitz's Geodynamic Observatory was built here; here too are the Church of the Immacolata, founded in 1703, and the former Villa Zavota hotel, where Garibaldi stayed in 1864 and Renan in 1879. ## Useful information - **Type:** History and science - **Area:** [Upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/) - **Address:** Via Grande Sentinella, 80074 Casamicciola Terme NA - **Coordinates:** 40.745900, 13.903000 - **Where:** Upper Casamicciola, between Piazza Bagni and Maio (Via Grande Sentinella, Via Piccola Sentinella, Via Castanito) - **Illustrious guests:** Lamartine (1820), Garibaldi (1864), Renan (1879) - **Science:** Geodynamic Observatory founded in 1884, directed by Giulio Grablovitz - **Churches:** Sanctuary of the Immacolata (founded in 1703), Church of the Addolorata ## Where it is La Sentinella (literally “the sentinel”) occupies the hillside of [upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/), between the Piazza Bagni spa quarter and the Maio area. The place name lives on in the streets that cross it, Via Grande Sentinella and Via Piccola Sentinella, linked to Via Castanito. Its elevated position, with open views over the harbour and the gulf, explains both the name and the area's popularity with 19th-century holidaymakers. ## History: the hill of illustrious guests According to local historians, as early as 1820 the poet [Alphonse de Lamartine](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/alphonse-de-lamartine/) and his wife rented a small house in this area. A few decades later the hill was home to Saverio Zavota's “Belle Vue” hotel, now known as Villa Parodi Delfino. In June 1864, after just one day in Piazza Bagni, [Giuseppe Garibaldi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giuseppe-garibaldi/) moved to Villa Zavota to continue his thermal treatment: a plaque on the façade, listed in Italy's national catalogue of cultural heritage, records that the general stayed here after Aspromonte. In the summer of 1879 the French historian [Ernest Renan](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/ernest-renan/) and his family stayed at the same hotel. ## La Sentinella and science After 1883 the State chose the Grande Sentinella as the site for the [Casamicciola Geodynamic Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/), established by royal decree, founded in 1884 and designed and directed by the Trieste-born seismologist [Giulio Grablovitz](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giulio-grablovitz/). According to INGV (Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), regular meteorological observations began here on 1 January 1888, while the seismological section was active from 1889 to 1936. La Sentinella thus became one of the birthplaces of Italian instrumental seismology. ## The churches Beyond the former observatory building, along Via Castanito, stands the Church of the Immacolata (Immaculate Conception), founded in 1703: this is the [Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/). The [Church of the Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-of-the-addolorata/) also stands in the same area. ## How to get there La Sentinella can be reached on foot or by car by climbing from the centre towards the upper part of the town, in the direction of Via Castanito and Via Grande Sentinella. The streets are narrow and steep: if you are walking, it is best to start from Piazza Bagni. The historic villas are private residences and can be seen from the outside only. ## What to see nearby - The [Grande Sentinella Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/). - The [Sanctuary of the Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/). - Garibaldi's villa, described on the page devoted to [Giuseppe Garibaldi](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giuseppe-garibaldi/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is La Sentinella in Casamicciola? It is a hilly area in the upper part of the town, with views over the gulf. It is linked to the story of the illustrious 19th-century holidaymakers and to the Geodynamic Observatory founded in 1884. ### Where did Garibaldi stay at La Sentinella? At Saverio Zavota's Belle Vue hotel, now Villa Parodi Delfino. A plaque on the façade commemorates his stay in 1864. ### How do you get to La Sentinella? By climbing from the centre towards Via Castanito and Via Grande Sentinella, on foot or by car. The streets are narrow and steep, so it is best to start from Piazza Bagni. ## Also worth seeing - [Grande Sentinella Geophysical Observatory](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/grande-sentinella-geophysical-observatory/) - [Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) - [Church of the Addolorata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-of-the-addolorata/) - [Giuseppe Garibaldi in Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giuseppe-garibaldi/) - [Ernest Renan in Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/ernest-renan/) - [Giulio Grablovitz, the Sentinella Seismologist](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/giulio-grablovitz/) - [Alphonse de Lamartine in Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/alphonse-de-lamartine/) - [Upper Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/areas/upper-casamicciola/) ## Sources and further reading - [Osservatorio Geodinamico di Casamicciola – INGV SISMOS](https://sismoslab.ingv.it/index.php/storia-della-sismologia/introduzione/gli-osservatori/o-150321) - [Casamicciola Terme – Discover Campania](https://discovercampania.it/en/the-territory-ischia/ischia-island/comuni/196-casamicciola-terme) - [Lapide a Giuseppe Garibaldi, Villa Zavota – Catalogo generale dei Beni Culturali (ICCD)](https://sigecweb.beniculturali.it/sigec/item/print/ICCD14707032) - [Casamicciola Terme e i suoi ospiti illustri – Guida all'Isola d'Ischia](https://www.ischia.campania.it/index.php/casamicciola-terme-e-i-suoi-ospiti-illustri/) - [Ernest Renan – Discover Campania, personaggi storici](https://discovercampania.it/en/historical-characters/248-ernest-renan)