Description of the attraction
Gaeta Castle stands on a rocky promontory in the city of Gaeta on the shores of the Gulf of Gaeta, 120 km from Rome. Gaeta played an important role in the military history of Italy: the foundation of the city and the construction of its first fortifications date back to the era of Ancient Rome, and in the 15th century the city fortifications were significantly expanded and fortified. For its long history, the castle, spread over an area of 14 thousand square meters, has also been rebuilt and modified more than once.
The exact date of the construction of Castello di Gaeta is unknown, but according to some historians, it could have been built in the 6th century during the Gothic Wars or later, in the 7th century, to protect the city from the invasion of the Lombards, who periodically flooded the seaside territories of Lazio and Campania. The very first documentary mentions of it are found in 1233, when Emperor Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty ordered to strengthen the structure. He himself stayed several times at the castle.
The current Castello di Gaeta consists of two different buildings. Its Angevin part is located in the lower part of the castle and dates back to the period of the Angevin dynasty. The Aragonese part is at the top - it was built by order of the Emperor Charles V along with other fortifications. The construction of these fortifications, incidentally, made Gaeta one of the most fortified cities in central Italy.
Until recently, the Angevin part of Castello di Gaeta served as a military prison, and today it belongs to the municipality of the city and is used for various exhibitions and conferences. Under the dome of its tallest tower is the Royal Chapel, built in 1849 by order of Ferdinand II. The Aragonese part now houses the Navigation School.
