Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Remarkable Historic Old Town of Gaeta, Italy

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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Italian coastal towns have experienced the gamut.

Because having a viable port cuts both ways, these towns were able to take advantage of sea merchant trading making their communities rich and profitable.

But that same harbor made them vulnerable to invasion - which happened over and over again throughout history.

Today's historic Old Town in Gaeta shows the evidence of these invasions by the ruins and architecture left behind.

Take a look.

Billy and Akaisha

We are standing in front of one of the many Medieval wooden doors found in Gaeta.

They are made with thick wood, huge nails and have tiny windows to catch the view of the person knocking on the outside.

These doors are also tall, and in many cases tall enough for a man on a horse to ride through.

Do you have any of these in your neighborhood?

Probably not!

The Villa Cisterns of the Empress Faustina

These Villa Cisterns are believed to have been part of a luxurious Roman villa that belonged to Faustina the Elder, who was the mother of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The villa was likely used as a summer residence due to its location along the coast.

The block squares from another angle

This large underground cistern was used to collect and store water for the villa.

The cistern has an intricate system of arches and chambers that allowed rainwater to be collected and stored for domestic use.

The Romans were famous for their urban planning, engineering and water management techniques.

Beautiful wall

Look at this beautiful wall with the individually cut stones laid at an angle to create a diamond pattern. The bottom is a curved framework, showing skill and artistry.

And to think these walls are hundreds and hundreds of years old.

Believed to be part of a larger villa, these walls were unearthed in the late 1950's.

Another look

As you can see, this wall goes up for several levels and the rounded brick and stone layers took precision to make.

Impressive!

A fortress

Because Gaeta has served as both a trade center and as a military base for centuries, this fort was built in 1737 when the House of Bourbon arrived in the Kingdom of Naples.

The modern roadway that you see here today was blocked by a massive wall with five cannons at the top.

House of Bourbon fort

The massive walls that connected the fort on both sides was a major artificial barrier to those who wanted to besiege Gaeta.

These continuous walls that went all the way to Monte Orlando and the many cannons that sat atop them made Gaeta practically impenetrable.

By 1860, there were 390 cannons that lined this wall.

An elaborate window frame

I would love to know the full stories of what went on in these fortresses and villas.

This elaborate window frame shows the artistic wealth in this location at that time.

The Sanctuary of the Most Holy Annunciation on the hill looking out

Further down the road from the Medieval fort and the Roman cisterns is this Sanctuary built around the 10th to 11th centuries.

It looks down upon the town and out onto the Gulf of Gaeta, part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

According to local tradition, the sanctuary was founded to commemorate a miraculous event in which the Virgin Mary appeared to a local fisherman, guiding him safely to the shore during a storm.

The current structure that you see underwent significant renovations and expansions over the centuries.

A close up of the Sanctuary

This Sanctuary is still actively used for worship and Holy Mass.

It serves as a hub for the local Catholic community and remains a destination for pilgrims and visitors who come to seek spiritual solace.

The Palace of Culture

A beautiful side view of the Sanctuary, with the Palace of Culture building underneath.

Historic residences and buildings

All along Gaeta's waterfront, there are several historic residences and buildings that have been repurposed as restaurants, cafes, shops, hotels and galleries.

 These buildings often showcase a mix of architectural styles, including medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque influences.

Walking along the waterfront is a gentle artistic experience with nature on one side and history on the other.

The Civic Gallery of Modern Art

Amid all these Medieval and Roman ruins, some of the buildings have been updated for modern day activities.

This waterfront gallery is dedicated to showcasing modern and contemporary artworks.

The collection includes works by both Italian and international artists.

The Angevin-Aragonese Castle

This castle is a historic fortress that overlooks the town of Gaeta and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Over the centuries it has undergone various modifications and renovations, and today it's a popular tourist attraction.

Can you imagine living in a place like this?

The origins of the castle date back to ancient times, but it's current form started to take shape during the medieval period. The Lombards, Normans, and then the Angevin dynasty all controlled this place.

The Angevins were a French royal house that ruled over the Kingdom of Naples.

But then, as life comes and goes and with various conflicts and changes in power, in the late 15th century, the castle came under the control of the Aragonese dynasty, which was of Spanish origin.

 It saw involvement in battles during the Napoleonic era and the struggles for Italian unification in the 19th century.

The Italian unification changed southern Italy's financial future to this day.

View of the Sanctuary from down the harbor walk

This view shows you a bit more of the waterfront walk, looking back at parts of the Old Town.

Hard to imagine the battles that went on here, when the sea is so calm. There's no trash on the street, the beautiful mountains rest in the distance, and cafes and restaurants line the other side of the sidewalk.

Cafe waitress and Akaisha

Speaking of which, here is a little cafe where we sat to soak up the view and digest all the history we just walked through.

You can see the classic buildings behind us painted in those lovely pastel colors. The harbor is to the right of the photo, and this morning there was a group of motorcyclists who parked their bikes and came here for their morning espresso.

Just another beautiful day in Southern Italy!

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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