Palio del Mare

A regatta that tells the story of Gaeta's maritime soul

The Palio del Mare is an event that, every year at the end of May, reveals the most authentic face of Gaeta—a city in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio—that of a port that has lived off its sea for centuries. Promoted by the VogAmare Gaeta association in collaboration with the Municipality of Gaeta, the event is part of the heart of the patronal feast of Saints Erasmus and Marcian, transforming the stretch of water in front of the medieval village into a natural racecourse, with spectators crowding the quays and terraces of the historic center.

From the blessing of the oars to the water challenge

What makes the Palio del Mare different from a simple sporting competition is its ritual structure, which intertwines religious and competitive moments. The day begins in the afternoon with the gathering of the crews in the square of the Santuario della Santissima Annunziata, one of the city's iconic landmarks. From there, the procession moves toward the Cathedral Basilica bell tower, accompanied along the Giovanni Caboto seafront by the performances of the Sbandieratori dei Casali di Minturno flag-wavers.

At the foot of the bell tower, the most heartfelt gesture of the event takes place: the blessing of the oars and crews, a rite that links the sporting challenge to devotion toward the patron saints and the memory of all those who earned their living from the sea. A second flag-waver performance at the Molo Santa Maria precedes the start, and the regatta then kicks off along the city coastline, with crews vying for the palio with powerful oar strokes against the backdrop of medieval Gaeta.

The finale at the Bastione «La Favorita»

The official awards ceremony takes place in the evening at the Bastione «La Favorita», overlooking the gulf, and the day concludes with a concert in the square of the Santuario della Santissima Annunziata: the formula combines sport, music, and conviviality without ever losing the popular and free character of the festival.

A young tradition with deep roots

Born in 2023—the first edition was held in June with the patronage of the University of Cassino and the collaboration of the Caboto Nautical Technical Institute—the Palio del Mare has already become a fixture in the Gaeta calendar. Its young age should not be misleading: rowing has always belonged to the culture of this coast, and the event has successfully captured and showcased a maritime heritage that has never been interrupted in Gaeta.

What makes the setting special

• The stage: the race is held in front of the medieval historic center, between the Molo Santa Maria and the city coastline, one of the most photographed stretches of the Gulf of Gaeta.
• The patronal setting: the celebrations for Erasmus and Marcian span several days between late May and early June, featuring a patronal fair, a procession of the saints' busts, brass bands, concerts, and fireworks over the sea.
• The participation: the crews represent the local community, and the involvement of the public along the quays is an integral part of the show.
• Free access: attending the regatta and the performances costs nothing, as per the tradition of patronal festivals in southern Lazio.

Gaeta beyond the Palio

Those arriving for the Palio del Mare will find a city that deserves at least a weekend: the medieval district of Sant'Erasmo with its narrow alleys, the Cathedral with its Norman bell tower, the Santuario della Montagna Spaccata, the Riviera di Ulisse Regional Park, and the beaches of Serapo and Ariana. At the table, the tiella di Gaeta—a savory pie stuffed with octopus, escarole, or anchovies, which is now the gastronomic symbol of the city—naturally accompanies a day spent on the seafront.