Above it and to one side were the ruins of the great castle of Norba; below were the beautiful remains of Nymsa; while at its foot, extending to the sea, lay the Pontine marshes.
The greater part of this territory, which was traversed by the Appian Way, including the Cape of Circello, was the property of the Gaetani, to whom it still belongs.
At the time of which we are speaking it was ruled by the sons of Honoratus II, a powerful personality, who had raised his house from ruin.

He died in the year 1490, leaving a widow, Catarina Orsini, and three sons--Nicola the prothonotary; Giacomo, and Guglielmo.

His daughter Giovanella was the wife of Pierluigi Farnese and mother of Giulia.

Nicola, who had married Eleonora Orsini, died in the year 1494; consequently, next to the prothonotary Giacomo, Guglielmo Gaetani was head of the house of Sermoneta.
Alexander lured the prothonotary to Rome and, having confined him in the castle of S.Angelo, began a process against him.

Guglielmo succeeded in escaping to Mantua, but Nicola's little son Bernardino was murdered by the Borgia hirelings.