Grotta del Castiglione

      Grotta del Castiglione opens onto the steep southern wall of the hill of the same name. It was probably already used in the Neolithic as a comfort-able and spacious refuge from which to control the sea and the coastline. In Roman times it became the nymphaeum of the nearby villa and, in fact, many ruins, including a reservoir, dating back to that time can still be found. In the medieval times, Grotta del Castiglione became a refuge for the inhabitants of the island during pirate incursions. Many defence and look out mechanisms were constructed although these probably destroyed any previous buildings. Grotta del Castiglione eventually became the property of Giorgio Cerio who knocked down the medieval structures, restored the Roman reservoirs and constructed a house. Excavations of the area brought to light vases used in Roman times for cultivation of the flowers which decorated the nymphaeum.