Gaeta
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 10 January 2023
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Situated in the south-east corner of Lazio and close to the border with Campania, Gaeta is one of the foremost seaside resorts on the western, Tyrrhenian Coast of Italy.
Formerly known as the Duchy of Gaeta in the ninth and 12th centuries, it also has an illustrious history, being one of the maritime republics of the medieval period. Among Gaeta's rivals were nearby city-states such as Amalfi, Sorrento and Benevento, with whom it often fought either for or against in matters of trade, politics and sometimes, warfare. |
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With its beaches, caves, historic centre and clutch of churches, there is a great deal to explore in Gaeta. The town is split into four distinct areas around the headland of Monte Orlando. To really appreciate everything the town has to offer requires a full day but it works much better as a holiday base. The first area of interest is the port and the centro storico (historic centre) that surrounds it. If you approach Gaeta by car, you may have already felt you'd arrived in the centre as you pass the seafront and marina but if you continue heading east you eventually reach the port.
The port is a great spot for lunch with its clutch of restaurants specialising in freshly-caught fish. You can walk off your lunch or dinner by taking a stroll along the lungomare (seafront), checking out the boats in the marina or by visiting the town's main church: the Cathedral Basilica of Gaeta, fully named Basilica Cattedrale di Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo e dei Santi Erasmo e Marciano. The Cathedral can also boast a 13th century Bell Tower which at 57 metres high, soars above the Centro Storico.
Around the port you'll find an interesting tangle of streets; architecture comprising bright, bold colours mixed with archway windows. The collection of tall buildings in this area creates an intriguing overall effect, especially when viewed from afar or from above the town. There are several vantage points from which you can gaze down at this area: the beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi with its striking statue standing on a plinth at the centre of a monumental staircase is one such viewpoint. Continue to climb the streets around the church and you'll get wonderful views of the port and the Castello Agioino-Aragonese which stands guard above it.
Dominating the landscape around Gaeta is Monte Orlando. Standing at 171 metres above sea level, the rocky headland dwarfs everything below it, including the castle, offering some of Lazio's most dramatic panoramas. You can spend a whole day exploring this area alone, hiking up the mountain and visiting its monuments such as the Mausoleum of Lucius Plancus Munazio which sits at the very top. Further down the mountain, an area known as Montagna Spaccata (Split Mountain) offers more sights including the Sanctuary of Montagna Spaccata. The Sanctuary houses a collection of churches and chapels, as well as the entrance to the Grotta del Turco. Named after the Saracen pirates that used it as a hideout, the Grotta is an atmospheric sea cave of bright blue water and haunting sights such as the handprint of a Turkish pirate for which legends abound.
From Monte Orlando and close to the Sanctuary, you get perfect views down to Gaeta's most popular beach: Spiaggia di Serapo. The beach occupies a large bay to the west of the port, around the headland, offering a 1.5 kilometre stretch of uninterrupted golden sands. Make your way to the western end of the beach and you find a smaller raised headland with its own beautiful views. In this area you'll find the tiny Spiaggia di Fontania while continuing west brings you to the much larger beaches of Spiaggia dell'Ariana and Spiaggia dell'Arenauta.
Back towards the main town area, Serapo Beach lies at the southern end of the town with the main residential area of Gaeta directly behind it. This is actually the largest part of the town where you'll find the majority of shops and houses. It also has a long stretch of seafront, attractively manicured and lined with palm trees. At the southern end of this seafront called Lungomare Giovanni Caboto you'll find a large marina with its collection of expensive yachts.
From Gaeta it's possible to take boat trips in the summer, exploring the caves and azure waters of the immediate coastline and there are also places where you can rent a boat and drive it yourselves. A few miles to the east of Gaeta lies the town of Formia which is one of the main ports providing ferry crossings to the island of Ponza, an hour and 20 minutes away by hydrofoil. If you have a car, you can have great fun exploring the coastal road to the west of Gaeta; first you'll reach the beaches at the fringe of the town but if you keep going you'll eventually reach another of Lazio's best seaside towns: Sperlonga.
The port is a great spot for lunch with its clutch of restaurants specialising in freshly-caught fish. You can walk off your lunch or dinner by taking a stroll along the lungomare (seafront), checking out the boats in the marina or by visiting the town's main church: the Cathedral Basilica of Gaeta, fully named Basilica Cattedrale di Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo e dei Santi Erasmo e Marciano. The Cathedral can also boast a 13th century Bell Tower which at 57 metres high, soars above the Centro Storico.
Around the port you'll find an interesting tangle of streets; architecture comprising bright, bold colours mixed with archway windows. The collection of tall buildings in this area creates an intriguing overall effect, especially when viewed from afar or from above the town. There are several vantage points from which you can gaze down at this area: the beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi with its striking statue standing on a plinth at the centre of a monumental staircase is one such viewpoint. Continue to climb the streets around the church and you'll get wonderful views of the port and the Castello Agioino-Aragonese which stands guard above it.
Dominating the landscape around Gaeta is Monte Orlando. Standing at 171 metres above sea level, the rocky headland dwarfs everything below it, including the castle, offering some of Lazio's most dramatic panoramas. You can spend a whole day exploring this area alone, hiking up the mountain and visiting its monuments such as the Mausoleum of Lucius Plancus Munazio which sits at the very top. Further down the mountain, an area known as Montagna Spaccata (Split Mountain) offers more sights including the Sanctuary of Montagna Spaccata. The Sanctuary houses a collection of churches and chapels, as well as the entrance to the Grotta del Turco. Named after the Saracen pirates that used it as a hideout, the Grotta is an atmospheric sea cave of bright blue water and haunting sights such as the handprint of a Turkish pirate for which legends abound.
From Monte Orlando and close to the Sanctuary, you get perfect views down to Gaeta's most popular beach: Spiaggia di Serapo. The beach occupies a large bay to the west of the port, around the headland, offering a 1.5 kilometre stretch of uninterrupted golden sands. Make your way to the western end of the beach and you find a smaller raised headland with its own beautiful views. In this area you'll find the tiny Spiaggia di Fontania while continuing west brings you to the much larger beaches of Spiaggia dell'Ariana and Spiaggia dell'Arenauta.
Back towards the main town area, Serapo Beach lies at the southern end of the town with the main residential area of Gaeta directly behind it. This is actually the largest part of the town where you'll find the majority of shops and houses. It also has a long stretch of seafront, attractively manicured and lined with palm trees. At the southern end of this seafront called Lungomare Giovanni Caboto you'll find a large marina with its collection of expensive yachts.
From Gaeta it's possible to take boat trips in the summer, exploring the caves and azure waters of the immediate coastline and there are also places where you can rent a boat and drive it yourselves. A few miles to the east of Gaeta lies the town of Formia which is one of the main ports providing ferry crossings to the island of Ponza, an hour and 20 minutes away by hydrofoil. If you have a car, you can have great fun exploring the coastal road to the west of Gaeta; first you'll reach the beaches at the fringe of the town but if you keep going you'll eventually reach another of Lazio's best seaside towns: Sperlonga.
Comune di Gaeta
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Province: Latina
Region: Lazio Population: 19,598 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 28 km² Highlights: Serapo Beach, Grotta del Turco, Port, churches Water quality: Blue Flag Beach 2021 - 2022 Close by: Sperlonga, Formia, Ponza, Circeo National Park Recommended accommodation: Grand Hotel Le Rocce |
The old town around the port, described as Gaeta Medievale is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages)
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