Gaeta

Gaeta is an Italian town in the province of Latina in the Lazio region with 20,750 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012). It is the seat of an archbishop.

• 8.1 Sons and daughters of the town
• 8.2 personalities who were active in the city

Geography

Gaeta is located 130 km southeast of Rome and 90 km north- west of Naples. The port and beach resort is located on a hilly promontory, a spur of the Monti Aurunci, on the Gulf of Gaeta, southeast of Sperlonga. In Gaeta the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean is to be found. The many green in the city is dominated by pine and palm trees.

Part of the district is part of the Regional Park Riviera di Ulisse. Among the park " Monte Orlando " at the top of the headland.

Gaeta has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. The long sandy beaches of the municipality Serapo be sought from about April to October from bathers.

The districts of the municipality are Areanuta, Ariana, Fontania, Quattro Remi, Sant'Agostino, San Vito and Serapo. The municipality covers an altitude 0-491 m slm

Gaeta is a member of the Comunità Montana dei Monti Aurunci.

The municipality is located in the seismic zone 2 (medium endangered).

The neighboring municipalities are clockwise Itri and Formia.

History

Gaeta has been cited by Virgil in the Aeneid ( Aeneas' journey to Rome ). It is the place where according to legend, Aeneas and his nurse Caieta buried. From it also the ancient name Caieta is derived. According to Strabo, however, the name comes from the laconic word for shoal ( Καιέτας ). The natural harbor was frequented very early. From the middle of the 4th century BC, he came into the Roman sphere of influence and became a popular health resort with numerous villas. Among others, Cicero and Antoninus Pius had villas here. On Monte Orlando the tomb of the Roman consul Lucius Munatius Plancus are ( early 1st century AD) and the Sanctuary Montagna Spaccata.

In the Middle Ages, the city secured its independence from the pope and the emperor, as well as neighboring kings and dukes among other things, by an alliance with the Saracens of the Garigliano.

The ancient Caieta gained great importance for maritime trade in the Middle Ages. Pope Pius IX. took refuge here in 1848, after he had driven during the Italian Risorgimento Rome insurgents.

The last king of the Two Sicilies, Francis II, 1860 sold here by Garibaldi and kept the siege with his last troops (see General Felix Schumacher ) for several months standing. Until the Second World War Gaeta served as a naval fortress due to its geographical location.

Since 1967, the flagship of the 6th Fleet of the U.S. Navy stationed in Gaeta. Currently, this is the USS Mount Whitney (LCC -20). It is subject to the U.S. Fleet Command ( Naval Forces Europe-Africa/6th Fleet ) in Naples, where there is also the more important base for the 6th Fleet.

Demographics

Policy

Cosimo Mitrano ( PdL ) was in the second ballot on 20-21. May 2012 elected mayor. He defeated his predecessor, Antonio Raimondi (left civil list) with 64.1 %. Mitranos center-right coalition also with 10 of 16 seats, the majority in the City Council.

Mayor of Gaeta

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the city is a four divided shield with alternating silver and red fields. The coat of arms dates back to the native of Gaeta Caetani family.

Twinning

• Frontignan in the French region of Languedoc -Roussillon is a partner city of Gaeta. A friendship agreement has been signed with the city of Bethlehem in Palestine.

Tourism

Gaeta is an important seaside resort between Rome and Naples. In August, the city's population tripled by the presence of mainly Italian tourists. Only about 5% of the August holiday in Gaeta are foreigners. Especially popular is the city district " Gaeta vecchia " with the medieval castle, the narrow streets, old churches, the cathedral and the monastery. There are also many small restaurants and bars. Two kilometers to the Sperlonga, on the leading along the coast " Via Flacca ", is the "Disco - mile" with dozens of nightclubs; most of them between the hillside and beach.

Attractions

Provide historical remains from the time of ancient tourist attractions dar. The most famous buildings include the built around 1100 Romanesque cathedral, which was extended by the Campanile in the 13th century. About the old town stands the medieval castle ( 8th century ), which is now used as a state prison.

Traffic

• Gaeta is traversed along the coast of the SS 213 Via Flacca that leads from Terracina to Formia.
• Shortly after Gaeta joins the SS 213 in the SS 7 Appia, the main route to Rome.
• About the SS 630 Gaeta is connected to the north with Cassino.
• About the SS 630 can also be reached in 42 km from the junction Cassino to the A1 Autostrada del Sole.
• The nearest train station is 8 km away in Formia at the Roma- Formia -Naples.

Personalities

Sons and daughters of the town

• John of Gaeta (around 1058-1119 ), Italian Pope Gelasius II
• Giovanni Caboto (c. 1450-1498 ), Italian navigator
• Thomas Cajetan (1469-1534), Italian Dominican, Cardinal and founder of the neo-Thomism
• Scipione Pulzone (around 1550-1598 ), Italian painter
• Sebastiano Conca (around 1680-1764 ), Italian painter
• Giovanni Bausan (1757-1825), Italian naval officer and politician in the Kingdom of Naples
• Luigi Di Liegro (1928-1997), Italian Catholic priest

Personalities who were active in the city

• Cy Twombly (1928-2011), American painter, lived and worked over 50 years in Gaeta