If you've been to the Italian coast more than once and think you know it like the back of your hand, be warned: do bring a map of Gaeta with you, to make sure you're 100% sure you haven't missed any points of interest in the resort.
So, when describing the sights of Gaeta, each guide begins his narrative with the ancient military fort that protected the entrance to the bay. Also a popular tourist spot is the medieval fortress, built back in the 12th century, which served at one time as a royal residence, then as a prison and even as a barracks. The sights of Gaeta fully reveal the turbulent history of the city, with the ruins of fortifications and water supply systems dating back to Roman times.
The splendid photos of Gaeta's sights feature an ancient castle, built in the 6th century and consisting of two parts - the Angevin (the work of the French) and the Argonne (the residence of Charles V). The historic building is now home to the modern Naval College.
Gaeta's sightseeing map marks the Cathedral as a masterpiece of twelfth-century Gothic architecture, built at the behest of Ferdinand Bourbon. It houses a festive Easter candle depicting the life of Jesus on earth.
A special place among Gaeta's Christian landmarks is the Cathedral of the Annunciation, built in 1321 with donations from local residents. It houses a chapel called the "Golden Grotto," constructed on a rock that broke off from Mount Orlando.
An interesting site is Mount Orlando, or the Split Mountain (Montagna Spaccata), where there is a handprint preserved in stone, believed to date back to when the rock was still soft. This sacred site attracts tourists from all over the world. In ancient times, the monk Francesco Neri, later canonized, lived in a small niche at the base of the mountain.
