Nature and sea, but also history and lots of artistic treasures are important aspects in Gaeta. The reason for the number of monuments and styles from different times in the historic part of the towncalled Old Gaeta or Medieval Gaetais connected with the town’s position, halfway between Rome and Naples. This position turned Gaeta, located at the border between the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, into one of the strategic points in Italy, allowing the town to enjoy for centuries a relative autonomy. Known already by the Romans as a beautiful summer destination, Gaeta was one of the Maritime Republics and afterwards Dukedom, also issuing its own coin, the famous Follaro, now one of the symbols of the town. Here below a list of historical and artistic sites around the town: the Angioino-Aragonese castle, the historic neighbourhood, the Diocesan Museum, the Lucio Munazio Planco mausoleum, the Lucio Sempronio Atratinomausoleum and the Roman mausoleum, also known as the maritime grave, the Charles III’s Gate, Ladislao Palace, the Municipal Contemporary art Gallery and the Museum Ferdinand II.
Gaeta also offers numerous examples of religious art: the S.S Annunziata Sanctuary, the cathedral of St. Erasmoand Marciano and minor churches worth visiting, such as the church of St. Giovani a Mare, the church of St. Giacomo, the church of St. Francescoand the church of St. Lucia. Museums, monuments and historical sites, if you are staying in Gaeta, it will be hard to decide what to see first in the old part of the town. Not to be missed the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity, also known as the sanctuary of the Split Mountain, which deserves a brief introduction, representing one of the major attractions in Gaeta. The church is visited every year by thousands of pilgrims, while visitors are mostly attracted by its charm. On the left of the church starts the deep fault, known as the Turk’s grotto. A stairway of approximately 300 stairs leads to a spacious sea-level cavity from which the entire cave can be admired, surrounded by the green and blue water reflections. The cave is also much appreciated by free climbing lovers, who sometimes can be seen on the steep walls. Worth mentioning in this Guide is the number of cultural events organized in Gaeta, the beach where Aeneas’ nurse was buried: the Virgilio Arena, located in the town centre, is set up in mid-August, showing international artists and the Gaeta Jazz Festival, only two of the most important events scheduled every year in Gaeta and part of a list of events that keeps growing more and more.
