Gulf of Gaeta
The Gulf of Gaeta occupies the last stretch of the Riviera di Ulisse, on the border between Lazio and Campania.
The Gulf of Gaeta is a body of water on the west coast of Italy and part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is bounded by Cape Circeo in the north, Ischia and the Gulf of Naples in the south, and the Pontine Islands in the west. The gulf is named for the nearby Italian city of Gaeta. The gulf was home to a NATO base from 1967 to 2006, this base was the home port of the flag ship of the Sixth Fleet.
The coast, low and flat for miles, here becomes animated through the mountains Ausoni and Aurunci, which go up to the sea with their ridges covered with Mediterranean vegetation.
The legends tell that landed, from Troy, some people described by Homer: Aeneas, which before reaching Lavinio stop in Gaeta, Dardano and most famous Ulysses, who traveled from Terracina to Circeo, where he was prisoner of love of Maga Circe.
The Medieval Quarter of Gaeta is itself of interest. It lies on the steep sides of Mount Orlando and has characteristic houses from the 11th-13th centuries.
Gaeta is also the centre of the Regional Park of Riviera di Ulisse, which includes Monte Orlando, Gianola and the Scauri Mounts, and the two promontories of Torre Capovento and that of Tiberius' Villa at Sperlonga.
Sperlonga
Sperlonga is at the feet of S. Magno Mountain (Aurunci Mountains). Its name comes from the presence of natural caves (“speluncae”) along the coast. Romans considered this coast a very beautiful one. Emperor Tiberio loved it and wanted to build a villa where he liked to spend his holidays. He built it in a cave, called “Tiberio’s cave”.
Sperlonga was used as the set for many movies thanks to its beauties and its landscapes. In 1950s, the famous Italian actor Raf Vallone found this wonderful spot while he was filming with Lucia Bosé. Sperlonga received the Blue Flag thanks to the quality of the sea and of facilities.
The most ancient part is actually a picturesque, typical Mediterranean village: white small houses, small arches in the narrow alleys, etc. The heart of the village is the small central square that is like a “salon”.
Near Sperlonga there are two beautiful lakes considered ‘the eyes’ of Sperlonga: S. Puoto and Lago Lungo. Sandy beaches are charming: Fontana, Canzatora, Salette, Bonifica, Angolo (where Tiberio’s cave is), Bazzano, delle Bambole (where there is the homonymous cave).
For further information please visit: www.sperlonga.it
The Pontine Islands
The Pontine Islands are an archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of Italy. The islands were collectively named after the largest island in the group, Ponza. The other islands in the archipelago are Palmarola, Zannone, and Gavi to the northwest, Ventotene and Santo Stefano to the southeast. These two groups are separed by 22 nautical miles. From Sabaudia-Cape Circeo peninsula to Zannone the distance is 12 nautical miles, while Ventotene faces Gaeta (21 miles). The minimum distance between Santo Stefano and the isle of Ischia is 22 nautical miles.
The archipelago is the result of volcanic activity and has been inhabited for thousands of years.
Getting there:
Vetor
www.vetor.it
Snav
www.snav.it
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