GAETA (the Cajeta of the Latins), a strongly fortified maritime town of southern Ithly, in tho province of Caserta, is picturesquely situated on an abrupt promontory projecting into the Mediterranean, and connected with a mainland by a low and narrow isthmus protected by inlid-walls. On the summit of the promontory stands the circu lar tower D'Orlando, said tube the ancient mausoleum of Lucius 3lunatius Plancus, the friend of Augustus. The beauty of the bay of G., which almost rivals that of Naples, has been celebrated by Homer, Virgil, and Horace. Cajeta, the ancient name of G., derives its origin. according to Virgil, from its being the burial-place of Cajeta, the nurse of YEneas. On the dismemberment of the Roman empire, G. became a center of civilization and commercial prosperity, and reached still further importance after the decadence of the eastern empire. In the growth of this early municipality is fore shadowed the commercial life and grandeur of the later republics. Both iu
ancient and modern times, G., has sustained remarkable sieges, and recently it has been the theater of several interesting events. • In"1848, it became the refuge of pope Pius IX., when the revolution at Rome compelled him to retire. In 1860, after the defeat of the Neapolitans on the Volturno by the forces of Garibaldi, G. was the last stronglioal of the Bourbon dynasty of Naples, and surrendered after a protracted siege to Cialdinf. Many interesting classic remains have been found in G., including a fine marble vase by the Athenian sculptor Salpione. Its vicinity abounds in remains of Roman villas, etc. The citadel, which is of great streneth, contains in its tower the tomb of the constable Bourbon, killed at the taking of Romein 1527. The inhabitAts of G., who number about 18,000, derive their chief profits from the fisheries and their coasting trade in oil, wine, and fruit—the chief productions of the surrounding country,