The Angevin Castle of Gaeta, owned by the State, is granted for use to the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio. The university utilizes the building as a venue for higher education, seminars, conferences, summer schools, large national and international events, and other cultural activities, ensuring its enhancement and accessibility in a spirit of shared heritage with the city.
The Castle of Gaeta was built by Frederick II of Swabia between 1223 and 1226. It held a crucial strategic function, as it provided sea access to the Kingdom of Sicily. However, Frederick II’s castle stood for only a few years before being demolished during a revolt. In 1266, the new ruler of southern Italy, Charles I of Anjou, occupied Gaeta and rebuilt a fortress on the ruins of Frederick II’s castle, facing the sea.
A decisive year in the castle’s history was 1435 when the Spanish king Alfonso V of Aragon established his court there and launched his expansion into the Kingdom of Naples from Gaeta. The following year, Alfonso began expanding and fortifying the structure. The French and the Spanish long vied for control of Gaeta, but the city and its castle remained under Spanish rule until the early 18th century. In 1734, the Kingdom of Naples came under the control of Charles III of Bourbon, who immediately began restoring the Castle of Gaeta.
The 19th century was a turbulent period, as the castle frequently changed hands. Despite succumbing in several sieges, its fortifications demonstrated their resilience. Notable sieges include the one in 1806 (by the French), in 1815 (during the Austro-Neapolitan War), and in 1860 (during the wars for Italian unification). The Bourbons, in addition to maintaining the secret passages, also modified the castle’s architecture. Since the 18th century, the castle has also served as a prison, and after the unification of Italy, this became its sole function. Until 1990, it operated as a military prison.