Gaeta · Food
Tiella di Gaeta
Updated 22 October 2026Two thin discs of dough and a filling from the sea or the garden: the tiella is Gaeta's signature food. Here's what it is, its history and which fillings to try.
What tiella is
It's a rustic savoury pie: a dough of flour, water, olive oil and yeast, rolled thin into two discs and filled. It's eaten by the slice, hot or cold, and it's Gaeta's street food par excellence. It's listed among Lazio's traditional products and holds the town's De.Co. designation.
Fillings to try
- Octopus and olives: the most famous.
- Escarole: with olives and capers, the classic vegetable one.
- Salt cod, anchovies, onions, spinach.
- Many bakeries also do squid, or broccoli and sausage.
A bit of history
It began as lunch for fishermen and farmers: it could hold the day's catch or garden vegetables and kept for days. One of the earliest written mentions dates to 997, in the Codex Diplomaticus Cajetanus, where tiella appears as an object of exchange. Ferdinand IV of Bourbon is said to have loved it.
Where to eat it
You'll find it in almost every bakery and pizzeria in Gaeta, especially in the centre and along Via Indipendenza. Buy it by the slice and eat it strolling on the seafront or through the old town, even during the Favole di Luce Christmas lights.
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Experiences and tours in GaetaFAQ
What is tiella di Gaeta?
A savoury pie with two thin discs of dough and a filling, typical of Gaeta.
What's the most famous tiella?
Octopus and olives.
Where can I eat tiella in Gaeta?
In almost every bakery and pizzeria in town, by the slice.