It is amazing just how much the castle embodies the history of its crucial and debated city, along with that of its dominators: the Angevins, Aragones, Spanish, French, Austrians and members of the House of Bourbon have all resided here. In the season of the Neapolitan Republic, back in 1799, it even became the head office of the Directorate praising the French Revolution’s ideals. Between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, it hosted Celestin V who, here, renounced to become Pope; Petrarca, Boccaccio and Giotto, called to make frescos that have now gone ruined; and then Ettore Fieramosca and Tommaso Campanella (in its dark prisons). A castle full of history, just like the Mediterranean Sea that lays right in front of it. The Festival will bring its performances to the Maschio Angioino by making a stage in the central courtyard for an audience of approximately 400 spectators.
