The castle of Baiae, tickets prices and location
How much the Baiae Castle and the Museum cost?
TICKET: € 5
REDUCED TICKET: € 2 (citizens of the European Union between 18 and 25 years old)
CIRCUITO FLEGREO TICKET: € 10
CIRCUITO FLEGREO REDUCED TICKET: € 5 (citizens of the European Union between 18 and 25 years old)
Free for everyone under the age of 18
The Circuito Flegreo ticket is valid three days and allows you to visit:
- the ancient Roman baths of Baiae
- the Aragonese castle of Baiae and the archaeological museum of the Phlegraean Fields
- the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
- the archaeological excavations of Cumae
tel: +39 081 523 3797
What are the Baiae Castle opening times?
9.00 - 14.20 (Last admission at 13.00)
Closed on Monday
To reach the parking of the Aragonese castle of Baiae by car
The parking is about just 200 meters (120 yards) from the entrance...click on the photo.
How to reach the castle of Baiae by public transport:
From Naples by BUS: In Piazza Garibaldi (adjacent to the central station of Naples) there is a bus station, take one of the buses that arrive in Torregaveta or Monte di Procida. The stop is "Bacoli - Via Risorgimento / Via Roma". the trip takes about 1 hour.
more info here..
From Naples by Train: In Montesanto take the Cumana (towards Torregaveta) then get off at the Fusaro stop. Walking to via Vanvitelli (2 minutes from the Fusaro station). It is the road in front of the Bourbon park, where is located the vanvitellian cottage (the ancient little Hunting house of Ferdinanand of Bourbon, King of Naples). With the park behind you, the stop is the first on the right. Tickets can be purchased in the Illiano Tabacchi shop. From here take the Archebus Flegreo and get off at the castle of Baiae (ask the driver: "devo scendere alla fermata del Castello di Baia" it's mean I have to get off to Baiae Castle stop).
The history of the Baiae castle and the archaeological museum
The Aragonese castle of Baiae, from its construction to today
The construction of the castle began in 1495, wanted by King Alfonso II of Aragon during a time in the kingdom of Naples various fortifications had been built.
After about fifty years there was an eruption, through which by a new volcano was born: the monte nuovo (new mountain). The Castle was damaged, so it was restored and modified giving it the appearance what we see today. This Castle has always been used as a military fortress.
In 1734 it was restored again by Charles of Bourbon king of Naples, because it was damaged when he conquered the kingdom against the Austrians.
In 1799 the castle resisted the British fleets attack.
After the unification of Italy (1861) the aragonese Castle of Baiae has been abandoned he was no longer useful for military purposes.
In 1927 it was restored again to use for the military-orphaned
During the Second World War it was used as a prison for prisoners of war.
In 1980 the concession was transferred to Campania region that used the castle as temporary lodgings for the earthquake victims in Irpinia (in province of Avellino)
In 1984 the concessions changed hands again to Archaeological Superintendent of Naples and Caserta. So now inside the castle there is the Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields with an exposition about archaeological remains found :
- in Cumae,
- in the submerged Park of Baiae (old Julius port of the 1st century AD / CE, the port that connected Rome with the East),
- in the Rione terra (the ghost town of Pozzuoli)
- in the archaeological Baths of Baiae
- in Liternium (where there is the tomb of Scipio Africanus)
Among the various finds there are:
- the statue of Serapis (an Egyptian god), found in Pozzuoli inside Macellum (an ancient market) also called the Temple of Serapis as the name of the statue.
- the Nymph of Punta Epitaffio found in the port of Baiae. This area was submerged by the sea due to bradyseism phenomena (gradual uplift or descent of part of the earth's surface). On this statue has been found several furrows created by lithodomes (sea molluscs that corroding the rocks and then they settle inside), so it was possible to discover the ground level during bradyseism .
The museum of the Phlegraean Fields and its foundation
In 1984 the concessions changed hands again to Archaeological Superintendent of Naples and Caserta. So now inside the castle there is the Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields with an exposition about archaeological remains found :
- in Cumae,
- in the submerged Park of Baiae (old Julius port of the 1st century AD / CE, the port that connected Rome with the East),
- in the Rione terra (the ghost town of Pozzuoli)
- in the archaeological Baths of Baiae
- in Liternium (where there is the tomb of Scipio Africanus)
The Aragonese castle of Baiae was chosen as the seat of the archaeological museum of the Phlegraean Fields because it's located in near of all archaeological sites mentioned above.
Among the various finds there are:
- the statue of Serapis (an Egyptian god), found in Pozzuoli inside Macellum (an ancient market) also called the Temple of Serapis as the name of the statue.
- the Nymph of Punta Epitaffio found in the port of Baiae. This area was submerged by the sea due to bradyseism phenomena (gradual uplift or descent of part of the earth's surface). On this statue has been found several furrows created by lithodomes (sea molluscs that corroding the rocks and then they settle inside), so it was possible to discover the ground level during bradyseism.
