Gaeta, Marine republic and ancient Roman holiday resort, lies in the middle of "Riviera di Ulisse" on Monte Orlando. It is a splendid seaside town of natural beauty and spectacular landscapes with many historical, religious and monumental testimonies, along with superb beaches.
The hypotheses on the origin of the name are very different. In the Aeneid, Virgil talked about "Cajeta" Aeneas's nursing mother who died here. According to Strabone, the origin of the name derives from "Kaiàdas" or "Kaiètas", (cave).
Arriving from the north along Via Flacca coast road, after a series of tunnels, the vertical rocks open into enchanting beaches, bays, and coves. The town of Gaeta is typically medieval in character, with lanes, footpaths, a large castle, Norman bell towers, Roman Monuments and ancient walls (around the district of S. Erasamo)
On a promontory almost completely surrounded by the sea, there is the Urban Park of Monte Orlando. The lock of surrounding sea is "Oasi blue" and is managed by the WWF for scientific and educational purposes.
In the towns more progressive sector, which was created by the local fishermen and farmers, is the narrow Via Indipendenza, which is full of craft shops. A few hours sail from Gaeta is the beautiful archipelago of the Pontine Islands. The largest of these islands is Ponza, a popular summer holiday location.
