Gaeta, April 24th, 2024 – During a solemn ceremony held in the council chamber, Mayor Cristian Leccese presented the honorary citizen of Gaeta to Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, in accordance with the wishes of the City Council (Council Resolution No. 68 of October 23rd, 2023).
Mayor Cristian Leccese praised His Royal Highness’s commitment to promoting the city’s cultural and historical development, emphasizing the Prince’s relationship of respect and affection with the local community, in keeping with his family’s tradition.

THe first citizen of Gaeta has declared: “It is with immense honor that today we bestow this prestigious recognition on His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon. Our city boasts a historic relationship with the Bourbon dynasty, evidenced by the preservation of sites and military structures dating back to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. We welcome Prince Charles as an honorary member of Gaeta, confident that his presence will continue to foster our cultural and tourism development.”
As emerged during the formal ceremony in front of a large audience, Gaeta was defined as “Citta Fedelissima” (Most Faithful City) by Charles III of Bourbon in 1738, and was also the second capital of the Kingdom of Naples and temporary seat of the Papacy in 1848, Pius IX having fled to Gaeta under the protection of the King of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand II of Bourbon.

“I am deeply grateful for this prestigious honor. Gaeta, stated H.R.H. Prince Charles, “is not only a city with a remarkable historical heritage, but also the epicenter of the maritime economy. I will strive to support and enhance the many cultural and natural assets of this wonderful community, thus contributing to its sustainable development and its prominence in the global cultural landscape.”

The participation of eminent civil and religious figures, including the Archbishop of Gaeta, Monsignor Luigi Vari, the Prefect of Latina, Maurizio Falco, and the President of the Lazio Region’s Public Works and Transport Commission, Cosmo Mitrano, further enhanced the event.