Porta Carlo III, historically known as Porta dell’Avanzata, constitutes one of the main monumental gateways to the fortified city of Gaeta. Located along the Giovanni Caboto Promenade, it was originally built in 1737 at the behest of Charles III of Bourbon and later rebuilt in 1811. It represents a tangible symbol of Gaeta’s strategic importance as a stronghold of the Kingdom of Naples.
Architecturally made of local limestone, the gateway features a majestic arch that once had a masonry bridge and served to bridge the defensive moat. With the road rectification of 1933 and the filling in of the moats, the gate lost its original military function, but it remains a key visual landmark for those entering the medieval district of Sant’Erasmo.
Trivia and events: * The name: It is commonly referred to as “Charles III Gate” in honor of the sovereign who promoted its construction during the Bourbon period, although official documents of the time often refer to it as the “Gate of the Advance” because it was the first defensive outpost to land.
- Witness sieges: The structure witnessed the most dramatic moments in the city’s history, particularly the famous siege of 1860-61, which marked the end of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
- Urban Transformation: Before 1933, entering the city through this gate was much more impressive and controlled, as the configuration of the walls and moats prevented the free flow of modern traffic that we see today on the waterfront. It is currently a must for anyone wishing to begin a historic walk to the heart of Old Gaeta.
