Visit Gaeta
Gaeta, as well as being an important art city, is also a popular tourist destination - the most popular in Latium, thanks both to its beaches and landscapes. It is situated on the coast to the south of the Lazio region.
Among the monuments to visit are the Angevin-Aragonese Castle, situated in the old city and built by Frederick II of Swabia (1194-1250) in 1227 (although modified by Charles II of Anjou in 1289 and Alfonso I of Aragon in 1436) and built overlooking the sea with imposing towers at the corners of the building.
A few steps from the harbour there is the Cathedral of Saint Erasmus, the patron saint of the city. It was built in the tenth-eleventh century and was consecrated by Pope Paschal II in 1106. It has a tower 57 meters high, in Arab-Norman style, dating from the 12th century. Inside, we can admire numerous works of art, including the Easter candle of the thirteenth century, decorated with bas-reliefs dedicated to the lives of Jesus Christ and St. Erasmus.
In Gaeta it is also worth visiting the Church of SS. Annunziata, built in 1321, in Gothic style and enriched by valuable works of art.Some precious and sacred music codes that were copied by monks are kept here. Inside there is also the "Golden Cave", so called because it has a coffered barrel vault made of gilded carved wood.
Also to visit is the neo-Gothic Temple of St. Francis, donated by Charles II of Naples and Ferdinand II of Bourbon (1810-1859). On the façade their statues are placed together with that of S. Francis and another that represents the faith that sustains the cross.
Next, the Gaeta Archeological Museum keeps various artefacts dating back to Roman times, and an Art Gallery, with important pictorial evidence, including frescoes of the 15th century by Giovanni da Gaeta (1448-1472) and other paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque ages by Teodoro D'Errico (1544-1618), Battista Beinaschi (1636-1688), Luca Giordano (1634-1705) and Sebastiano Conca (1679-1764).
Places to visit near Gaeta, and the local cuisine
Those who wish may also take a trip to Monte Money (359 m) that dominates the Plains of St. Augustine with its legendary red cliffs. This provides the ideal occasion to discover the local products, where the sea and hills meet. The peculiarities of the kitchen of Gaeta arise from the particular topography of the area and the ancient maritime trade which made possible the development of many different dishes, carefully developed over the years.
The history, nature and climate have provisded the background for a gastronomic heritage of absolute importance. Don't miss the Gaeta olives, which, they say, were already known by Aeneas. Today they are a valuable ingredient in kitchens all over the world. Let us also mention some typical dishes like 'Tiella', a pizza stuffed with fish or vegetables. Also of particular note are the salted anchovies and mussels.
See also history of Gaeta