Gaeta

Gaeta is a seaside resort town in the province of Latina in Lazio, Italy. It is on a pretty hill that points toward the Gulf of Gaeta. It is about 133 km south of Rome and 96.5 km north of Naples.

Megalithic walls

For a long time, Gaeta has been a good place to protect. Its walls are from Roman times and were made stronger in the 15th century. This happened during the time of the Kingdom of Naples and later the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Today, Gaeta is a fishing port and a favorite place for people to visit the beach. NATO also has a navy base there. In 2025, Gaeta got special awards called blue and green flags for twelve years in a row. This shows how lovely and clean its beaches are. It is also one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

History

Ancient times

Main article: Caietae Portus

Ancient Caieta was on the slopes of the Torre di Orlando, a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. People lived there as early as the 10th to 9th century BC, from a group called the Oscan-speaking Italic tribe known as the Aurunci. In 345 BC, the area became part of the Roman world.

Caieta had a pleasant climate, like nearby Formia and Sperlonga, and became a favorite place for rich Romans to build seaside homes. Important Romans, such as Scipio Africanus and Gaius Laelius, had homes there. The city was connected to Rome by important roads, like the Appian Way and its branch, the Via Flacca.

Many remains from Roman times can still be seen today, including a large home built by Lucius Marcius Philippus, the stepfather of Augustus. Another important Roman, Lucius Munatius Plancus, had a big home on Monte Orlando, and his tomb is still standing.

In the early days of the Roman Empire, Caieta remained a favorite spot for important people. Emperor Domitian also had a home there. Emperor Antoninus Pius improved the port because it was very important.

Gaeta by air, between 1917 and 1964

Middle Ages

Further information: Duchy of Gaeta and List of Hypati and Dukes of Gaeta

During the early Middle Ages, after attacks by groups called the Lombard, Gaeta stayed under the influence of the Byzantine Empire. Like other nearby places such as Amalfi, Sorrento, and Naples, it became almost independent and traded with faraway places.

As Byzantine power weakened, Gaeta grew. People from a nearby town called Formiæ moved to Gaeta in 840 because they were afraid of attacks. Gaeta had its own government, led by a leader called a dux.

Around 830, Gaeta was ruled by leaders called hypati or consuls. The first was Constantine, who helped the leader of the Christian church, Pope Leo IV, in a sea battle. The church in Gaeta was started around this time when a bishop named Constantine moved there.

The leaders of Gaeta worked together in a system called co-regency. Later, the town was captured by different rulers, including princes from Capua and Norman leaders. In 1194, sailors from Pisans took over the city.

In 1227, a ruler named Frederick II strengthened the castle. Later, the city changed hands many times, ruled by different kings and leaders from places like France, Spain, and the Kingdom of Naples.

Modern era

Angevine-Aragonese Castle

In 1495, a king from France, Charles VIII of France, captured Gaeta but lost it the next year. The city changed hands again over the years, ruled by French, Spanish, and other leaders.

In 1860, Gaeta was one of the last places held by rulers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After a long defense, the city finally joined the new Kingdom of Italy.

Contemporary age

After a period of change, Gaeta grew as a busy port and beach town. After World War II, the city faced hard times but became popular as a seaside resort. Today, people visit Gaeta for its warm, sunny beaches and enjoy its tomatoes and olives. Though many jobs have disappeared, tourism helps the city thrive.

Main sights

NATO naval base

View of Monte Orlando from a former anti-aircraft position on Serapo's seaside. The Montagna Spaccata is the sharply vertical cliff on the right side of the promontory. The bastions of Charles V can be seen just in the lower left corner of the convent in the woods.

In 1967, the main ship for the U.S. Sixth Fleet moved from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Gaeta. This happened after the United States took over from the United Kingdom as the main country leading NATO’s naval forces in the Mediterranean. The old British base in Malta was no longer just under British control because Malta became independent.

Today, Gaeta is the home port for the flagship of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The commander of this fleet is usually a high-ranking U.S. Navy officer. Gaeta has been important to the U.S. Navy since the early 1800s. Important leaders like Pope Pius IX and King Ferdinand II of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies visited Gaeta in 1849. Over the years, many ships have served as the flagship for the Sixth Fleet commander. The town also supports the families of the crew members who work on these ships. The NATO base was once on Monte Orlando but has since moved to a shore-based facility.

Culture

Gaeta has a special monument for John Cabot, who found Canada in 1500. The town is also linked to artists like Giovanni da Gaeta and Giovanni Filippo Criscuolo. You can find more about famous people from Gaeta at People from Gaeta.

People in Gaeta speak a special kind of Italian that keeps some old Latin ways. One popular local dish is called tiella, which looks a bit like pizza but is more like a savory crostata. Tiella can be filled with things such as squids, octopuses, tomatoes, and even sausages. Gaeta is also famous for its olives and beautiful beaches like Serapo and Fontania.

A big yearly event is Glie Sciusce on December 31, where young people dress in old costumes and play music in the streets. The name Gaetano means someone from Gaeta.