The Angevin-Aragonese Castle of Gaeta: Historical Sources and Restoration Insights through Paterna Baldizzi’s Drawings

This paper examines the conservation status of the Angevin-Aragonese Castle of Gaeta in the early 20th century through partly unpublished textual and graphic materials by Leonardo Paterna Baldizzi. These sources provide critical insight into the processes of knowledge, preservation, and reuse of Mediterranean fortified heritage. Constructed in 1266 by Charles I of Anjou over a former Swabian fortification, the castle became a strategic stronghold under Alfonso of Aragon and underwent multiple transformations across centuries. Converted into a Bourbon penal colony in 1734, it continued to be militarily targeted throughout the 19th century. In 1908, as part of a survey for the Regional Office for the Conservation of the Southern Provinces, Paterna Baldizzi—engineer and professor at the University of Naples—produced a technical and historical report accompanied by six detailed drawings. He emphasized preserving the fortress’s military character while acknowledging its potential as a social and civic space for the city. His annotated sketches reveal both a personal and scholarly understanding of the castle as a landmark. This contribution reframes the role of Mediterranean fortresses as not only historical subjects but also active elements in contemporary restoration and cultural valorisation strategies.