The best MTB trails around Parco regionale urbano Monte Orlando

Descending from Monte Orlando on a beautiful winding road, we suddenly find ourselves in front of a beautiful view of medieval Gaeta and the Angevin-Aragonese Castle in the foreground.

If you don't want to push the bike, you can go back and, as we did, take another trail, although we find other stairs there too, but there are fewer.

Splendid panorama of Serapo beach.

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.

The city of Gaeta owes its name to Caieta, Aeneas's nurse, who, according to tradition, is buried right here. According to another interpretation, it derives from the Greek term indicating the “cavity” of the famous gulf. Whatever the truth, what is certain is that the city has a very ancient history, a past that can still be felt in some areas such as the medieval quarter of Sant’Erasmo, attested as early as the era of the Duchy of Gaeta and the maritime republics. A decadent nostalgia can be felt in the streets of the quarter, visibly marked by the bombings of World War II. However, houses dating back to the 12th century are still visible along narrow alleys made of stairs, underpasses, and arches. The medieval quarter has two hearts. The first is the Church of San Giovanni a Mare, a 10th-century Romanesque building with evident Byzantine influence. The second is the Cathedral, consecrated in the 12th century. Inside, a splendid marble Easter candelabrum is kept, while outside stands the imposing Arab-Sicilian bell tower, with interwoven arches, inlays, and majolica tiles. Above all dominates the Aragonese-Angevin castle, which dates back to the 8th century and was later enlarged in the 13th and then in the 16th centuries. Finally, visit the Church of the Annunciation with the Golden Grotto, the Sanctuary of the Split Mountain with the mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus, and the characteristic Via dell'Indipendenza.

Beautiful sanctuary to visit

Wonderful tour! Highly recommended and suitable for everyone. Wonderful views, discovering the beauties of Gaeta.

Climb of about 2km closed to traffic. There is a paved road that reaches the top