THE GULF OF GAETA
Pictures by Bruno D’Amata
The Gulf of Gaeta is a body of water on the west coast of Italy and part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is bounded by Cape Circeo in the north, Ischia and the Gulf of Naples in the south, and the Pontine Islands in the west.
The gulf is named for the nearby Italian city of Gaeta. The Volturno is the primary river draining into the gulf. The Gulf is famous for hosting the most beautiful beaches of the Lazio Region: the coast is characterized by flat and accessible beaches, covering many kilometers before getting steeper. The most beautiful beaches attracting tourists during the summer are: the Spiaggia dei 300 gradini, Spiaggia di Fontania”, Spiaggia dei 40 remi”, Spiaggia di Sant’Agostino with its bays, caves and cliffs overlooking the sea. The Gulf also hosts famous cities appreciated by tourists of all ages and nationalities: Formia, Scauri, Terracina, Sperlonga and Gaeta.
This land is linked to the legendary mith of Enea, the Trojan hero that tied up his boat here to rest and bury his nurse Cajeta, who gave her name to the Gulf, according to the legend.
A land between history and mith, indeed, walking through the cities of the Gulf one can retrace the epic adventures of Enea, Ulisse and the history of the ancient roman people. Here you can find the famous Cicero’s villa and his monumental grave, summer houses, archaeological sites like the Minturnae complex, the Cave of Tiberius, the aqueducts and funeral monuments along the Appian way.
The Gulf is also famous in the world for its typical food products: the olives of Gaeta, the fresh fish and the famous Tiella, a pizza stuffed with olives, vegetables or fish like octopus or sardine.
See all the experiences in the Gulf of Gaeta
The Broken Mountain and Turk’s Cave in Gaeta: private boat tour (3 hours)
Happy hour in the Gulf of Gaeta: a romantic getaway at sunset
The Broken Mountain and Turk’s Cave in Gaeta: private boat tour (1 hour)