The Gulf of Gaeta

The Gulf of Gaeta is between Rome and Naples in the south of the region of Lazio.

A special tip for enthusiasts of italian culture and nature and for those who want to relax, enjoy holidays on the sea and enjoy the italian “dolce vita”.

The Gulf of Gaeta is surrounded by the gigantic Aurunci Mountains. The soast suddenly rises up to 1500 metres and the distance of the tops of the mountains (Mount Petrella 1533 metres) is only 7 kilometres from the sea. Because of this the coast is very varied: you can find little bays, long sandy beaches and hills covered with Mediterranean plants (macchia mediterranea).

Along the coast you find the penisula of Gaeta and the municipalities of Formia with its characteristic hillside hamlets and Minturno whose hilltop position allows the village to dominate the seaside hamlets of Scauri and Marina di Minturno.

    

Inland, the hills and slopes of the Aurunci Mountains are home to many ancient hillside villages such as Lenola, Campodimele, Itri, Spigno Saturnia, Santi Cosma e Damiano, Castelforte and the spa town of Suio Terme.

Sailing from the port of Formia, a two hour ferry ride (1 hour by hydrofoil) is all that is needed to reach a mall group of islands of volcanic origin (Ponza, Ventotene), whose splendid colours enrich enchanted beaches and picturesque secret bays, surrounded by a magnificent sea which is considered a real and proper divers’ paradise. The islands seem to lie just off the coast or fade into the distance depending on the weather and the season.

The scenery of the Gulf of Gaeta is various and unique: there is the coastal area, lovely green hills with lemon and olive groves and the typical hilly countryside.

On the coast you find the natural reserve Parco Regionale Riviera di Ulisse.

The biodiversity of the plant life within the park is very great. The most characteristic feature is the persistence of the tract of forest, dominated by cork oakes.  The low-growing maquis provides an explosion of colours in the spring, with the yellow of the broom, the white of the heather, the purple of the irises contrasting with the green of the myrtle, the citrus and the pistacia lenticus. Ten again, there are cyclames, asphodels and orchids.

Along the coast groups of Aleppo pines, with their umbrella tops, stand out against the limestone cliffs, reflected in the blue of the sea.

            

The cork woods provide a refuge fort he fox and fort he porcupine, which is difficult to meet. The tortoise and the hedgehog are silent and discreet in their presence With a bit luck one may see a weasel.

There are many species of birds, both nesting and migratory. Among others one could mention the blue tit, great tit, goldfinch, jay, hoopoe, swift and seagull. One may also sight the cormorant, egret, blue, heron, kestel and many species of hawks.

Besides the flora and fauna you can admire important remains of the Roman Age: the remains in Gianola of the Roman Villa of Mamurra (50 BC) with the cisterns restored recently; the mausoleum (22 BC) of L. M. Planco on the Mount Orlando in Gaeta and the Tiberius’ Villa (100 BC) in Sperlonga.

    

For long hikes the natural park of the Aurunci Mountains (Parco Regionale dei Monti Aurunci) is outstanding.

From the tops of the mountains the panorama goes from the Circeo to the Mount Visuvius. There is a particular magic because of the closeness to the sea.

The sea winds have given the seaward slopes a barran appearance, with a landscape of shrubs. On the northern slopes the vegetation is more luxuriant with woods of oak, hornbeam and beech on the higher slopes. Also impoetant is the existence of more than 50 species of wild orchids.

The park includes many ancient and characteristic villages where traditional crafts are still practised and the flavours of the past times are retained. There mountain farmers and shepherds work in harmony with the nature. It isn’t rare to meet herds of cows and goats and semiwild horses.
      

On the coast between Gaeta and Sperlonga there is a paradise for free-climbers. The cliffs, mostly calcareous, offer a number of ways up that fit different skill levels. The all offer climbers the chance to feel in an extraordinary natural environment.

Enthusiasts of culture have the possibility to visit and see huge walls from the preroman time of the Ausoni, Aurunci and Volci people.

There are a lot of archeological remains of the Roman Age. You can visit remains of aqueducts, thermal baths, fish-farming basins, villas, parts of the ancient Appian Way (Via Appia) an remains of the roman town Minturnae with the amphitheatre.
     

Every hour there are train connections from the train stations Tormia and Scauri-Minturno to Naples and Rome the eternal city.

In day trips it is possible to visit Pompei, the Coast of Amalfi, the Natural Park Abruzzo, Mount Cassino and Mount Vesuvius.

Protested from cold winds by the Aurunci Mountains, this area enjoys an extremely mild climate. Also because of this a holiday in the winter months is very pleasant.

DISTANCES:

Rome: 140 kilometres

Naples: 80 kilometres

Monte Cassino: 40 kilometres

Coast of Amalfi: 100 kilometres

Pompei: 90 kilometres

Natual Park Abruzzo: 80 kilometres