The best cycling routes around Gaeta

Riviera di Ulisse - Monte Orlando The rounded promontory of Monte Orlando juts out into the blue Gulf of Gaeta and ends in a spectacular cliff overlooking the sea. It represents the extreme seaward extension of the Monti Aurunci mountain range. Its position, extremely close to the sea, has determined and still determines today climatic characteristics that favour particular plant associations. This context, set within the flowering Mediterranean scrub that envelops the entire hill, offers numerous points of interest for a visit in every season of the year. From a geological point of view, rainwater and marine erosion have created caves, cavities, and crevices such as "Montagna Spaccata", "La Grotta del Turco", and the characteristic cliffs overlooking the sea. From a historical point of view, the territory of Gaeta was considered a safe refuge by Popes and Emperors in times of difficulty. Over the centuries, therefore, numerous military constructions were born, such as ramparts, powder magazines, ammunition depots, and firing platforms. Today, the testimony of these works is clearly visible within the park, as are the numerous archaeological remains from the Roman era, including the perfectly preserved Mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus.

This famous archaeological site is the tomb of Lucius Munatius Planco, a Roman consul and founder of Lyon and Basel. The mausoleum is located on the summit of Monte Orlando, from where you can also admire the entire Gulf of Gaeta, the Aurunci mountain range, Monte Circeo, the Pontine Islands, and Vesuvius. An admirer and connoisseur of these places, fascinated by their beauty but also enticed by the strategic position and natural fortifications of Gaeta, Lucius Munatius Planco, by choosing Monte Orlando, wanted, once again, to excel and ensure his protection. Unlike the mausoleum, which is in good condition today, so much so that it is considered one of the most important existing Roman funerary art artifacts, his sumptuous villa has almost entirely disappeared. Few remains of it are left in the area of the Sanctuary of the SS. Trinità. The construction dates back to 22 BC and is perfectly circular in shape with a tumulus covering. Inside, this monumental tomb consists of four cells accessible from a circular corridor (ambulatory) and arranged according to the 4 cardinal points. The cells house an antiquarium of artifacts from different historical eras found in the area of Gaeta, and in the main one at the entrance, a copy of the original statue of the consul, currently in Rome, can be admired. The diameter of the structure is 29.54 meters, while the external circumference measures 93.10.

This typical dish is not to be missed.

The Park of Monte Orlando covers an area of 89 hectares, of which 59 are land area and 30 are marine area. Located within the territory of Gaeta, the Park represents the terminal part of the Aurunci mountain system. This protected area is managed by the Riviera di Ulisse Regional Park Authority together with the areas of the Gianola and Monte di Scauri Suburban Regional Park and the Natural Monument of Sperlonga. With a typically rounded shape, Monte Orlando is connected to the mainland to the north by a thin strip of land and ends in the south with a high rocky coast characterized by spectacular cliffs. The territory is affected by the corrosive action of water; in fact, rain penetrating the rocks dissolves the calcium carbonate contained within them, giving rise to numerous and typical erosive forms. The sea has also contributed to shaping the promontory and, over the centuries, through wave motion, has modeled and etched the rocks, leaving fossil traces, recognizable signs of the ancient sea level. Human intervention, in different historical eras, has left its mark on Monte Orlando. Particular attention should be paid to the military fortifications, built both outside and inside the current Park, which made Gaeta a fortress of strategic importance for the Kingdom of Naples. At the summit, we find the Mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus.

Impressive stone formation that opens up to the city of Terracina (coming from the south)

Well-maintained seafront, with an excellent cycle path for safe cycling, even for the less experienced.

Fascinating place that offers views and sea

A place I explored many times as a child with my parents and as a teenager for bonfires with friends. This time, I explored it in winter, but only memories remained, yet it remained fascinating.