Gaeta

Gaeta (Lat. Caieta), a strongly fortified maritime town of southern Italy, in the province of Caserta, is picturesquely situated on a lofty promontory projecting into the Mediterranean, 50 miles NW. of Naples. On the summit of the promontory stands the circular Roland's tower, said to be the mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus, the friend of Augustus. The beauty of the bay of Gaeta, which almost rivals that of Naples, has been celebrated by Virgil and Horace. On the dismemberment of the Roman empire, Gaeta became an independent centre of civilisation and commercial prosperity. The town has been besieged on several occasions, as by Alphonso V. of Aragon in 1435, by the Austrians in 1707, by Charles of Naples in 1734, by the French in 1806, by the Austrians in 1815, and by the Italian national party in 1861. In 1848-49 it was the refuge of Pope Pius IX.; in 1860-61 of Francis II. of Naples. The vicinity of Gaeta abounds in remains of Roman villas, &c. The citadel, which is of great strength, contains in its tower the tomb of the Constable Bourbon, killed at the taking of Rome in 1527. The inhabitants, 16,848 in 1881, are chiefly engaged in fishing and in the coasting trade in corn, oil, wine, and fruits.