Gaeta between coast, nature and history

Explore Gaeta through three distinct perspectives: the historic city with its religious buildings and fortifications, the landscape of Monte Orlando, and the coast with its marine habitats. Cultural history, trails through natural surroundings and activities by the sea are presented as separate themes.

Landscape and trails on Monte Orlando

Monte Orlando is a protected natural area in the municipality of Gaeta and covers about three quarters of the city’s promontory. Its features include cliffs, faults, red earth and caves, including the Grotta del Turco. Montagna Spaccata is a promontory in Gaeta with three fissures in the rock and a visitor trail.

The Sentiero delle falesie runs through holm oak and pine forest and alongside low Mediterranean maquis scrub. In the Monte Orlando area, it also leads to Bourbon military powder magazines. The Sentiero ornitologico offers a viewpoint overlooking the Gulf of Gaeta, the medieval city and its Aragonese and Angevin castles. If you are choosing between the trails, they differ mainly in their stated highlights: the Sentiero delle falesie focuses on vegetation and powder magazines, while the Sentiero ornitologico offers views of the gulf and city.

Architectural history and religious buildings

Castello Angioino-Aragonese consists of two sections from different periods: the lower section is Angevin, the upper Aragonese. The fortress’s history dates back to the 12th century. At that time, Frederick II of Swabia had fortifications built in Gaeta.

The Santuario della SS. Trinità is located at Montagna Spaccata and was built in the 11th century. Its Via Crucis features majolica panels from 1849 bearing verses by Metastasio. Another example of architecture is the Santuario della SS. Annunziata: it is considered an example of Baroque architecture and was restored in 1621. This sanctuary includes the 14th-century Cappella dell’Immacolata, also known as the Grotta d’Oro. The Museo Archeologico in the sanctuary displays Roman finds as well as fragments of medieval architecture and ceramics.

The Duomo di Gaeta is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta in cielo and was built in the 10th to 11th century. Its bell tower is 57 metres high and built in the Arab-Norman style. The Chiesa di San Giovanni, also known as San Giuseppe, was built between the late 11th and early 12th century outside the city walls. It was built in the Byzantine style, with a Latin cross-shaped floor plan. The different construction periods and styles make the religious buildings a distinct focus alongside the history of the fortress.

Coast and marine habitats

Spiaggia di Serapo is 1.5 kilometres long and up to 70 metres wide at its broadest points. The Nave di Serapo is a separate attraction: it is an area of marine biodiversity with species-rich seabeds suited to freediving and snorkelling. From the shore, the Nave can be reached by swimming; on foot, access is via the nearby Fontania beach. Dives are possible off the cliffs of Monte Orlando, where many species can be observed on the seabed.

A New Year tradition

In Gaeta, the Sciuscio tradition is carried on every year on 31 December in the oldest streets of the neighbourhood. Gliu sciusce refers to groups of children, teenagers and adults who perform as they walk from place to place. They make their way through streets and homes, singing songs of good wishes. This recurring year-end tradition complements the city’s enduring architectural and landscape features.

Discover more destinations: San Felice Circeo, Giulianello, Foce Verde, Lenola, Sermoneta, Maenza, Latina, Terracina

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