GAETA, ga-Vti, a city and seaport of Italy and one of the most strongly fortified maritime cities of the country, located in the province of Caserta on the Gulf of Gaeta, 74 miles by rail northwest of Naples. It is picturesquely situ ated on an abrupt promontory projecting into the Mediterranean and connected with the main land by a low' and narrow isthmus protected by solid walls. On the summit of the prom ontory stands the circular tower D'Orlando, said to be the ancient mausoleum of Lucius Muna tius Plancus, friend of Augustus. Many in teresting classic remains have been found in Gaeta, including a fine marble vase by the Athenian sculptor Salpione, the ancient cam panile of the cathedral of Saint Erasmus and the remains of a Roman theatre and a Roman amphitheatre.
The inhabitants of Gaeta derive their chief profits from the fisheries and their coasting trade in oil, wine and fruit — principal produc tions of the surrounding country. Cajeta, an cient name of Gaeta, derived its origin, accord ing to tradition, from its being the burial-place of Caieta, the nurse of yEneas. On the dis
memberment of the Roman Empire, Gaeta be came a centre of civilization and commercial prosperity, and gained still more importance after the decadence of the Eastern Empire. It successively withstood the invasions of the bar barians and the Lombards and Saracens. Both in ancient and modern times, Gaeta has sus tained remarkable sieges, and recently it has been the theatre of several interesting events. In 1134 it fell before Roger II, and was an nexed to the Norman kingdom of Sicily. In 1806 it was defended for six months by Prince Ludwig von Hessen-Philippsthal against the forces of Massena. From 1848-50 it was 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, Gaeta was the last stronghold of the Bourbon dynasty of Naples, and after a protracted siege lasting from No vember 1860 to 13 Feb. 1861 Francis II of Naples surrendered the city to General Cialdini. Pop. about 6,000.