Church of San Francesco Gaeta was founded by followers of St. Francis of Assisi in 1222, the year. Its construction generous cash donations supported King Charles II of Anjou dynasty, which was devoted to the precepts of Saint Francis. The huge Gothic church was completed in the 14th century. It consists of a central nave with high arches, the two lower aisles, square chancel and apse at the end. Like many other churches Gaeta, San Francesco was decorated with works of art between the 16th and 18th centuries. Inside are buried some members of the aristocratic families of the city and members of his Spanish Government.

After the invasion of the peninsula of Napoleon, who issued a decree on the dissolution of religious orders and the closing of churches and monasteries, the church of San Francesco began to decline. Even after the restoration work carried out from 1854 to 1858-th-th years under the direction of architect Guarinelli, the temple has for some time been abandoned. It should be noted that the restoration of San Francesco was conducted under the patronage of the Italian royal family, and it was attended by the same craftsmen who worked on the church of San Francesco di Paola in Naples.

Small damage to the building of the church was done in the turbulent 1860s, when was the process of the unification of Italy, and during the Second World War, the San Francesco suffered much more significant. The following restoration works were carried out in 1951-52-m respectively.

To get to the church can be the stairs, at the top of which, enclosed by railings, is a monument and which offers a grand view of the Gaeta and the Bay. In the center of the facade is a large portal with marble statues on the sides - Charles II of Naples and Ferdinand II. On the tympanum seen an allegory of the restoration of the papacy, and left the statues of the saints Bernard, Ambrose, Francis, Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Inside the church are huge plaster statues of the Apostles, and on top of the apse - Christ the Redeemer. The decoration of San Francesco is the high altar, designed by Guarinelli, and several paintings depicting saints and biblical scenes.

To the left of the church stands a building that had once been a monastery. It preserved cloister of the 14th century. Extensive courtyard served as a platform for the rest, which was even a football field.