Caserta- The Versailles of the Kingdom of Naples

Caserta is a city of Etruscan origin. Around 423 BC it was conquered by the Samnites and sided with Hannibal, during the battle with the Romans. For this reason, in 211 BC it was punished with expropriation and centuriation, that is the division of the whole territory into large square plots. Caserta, then called Galatia, was a colony until 476 AD When the barbarian invasions began, the city had a period of decline, up to the destruction of 863 AD at the behest of Pandone the Raptor, who forced the inhabitants to take refuge in the nearby hills. During the period of Lombard domination, there were violent succession fights and the city developed around a watchtower, which has now become part of the prefecture palace, while with the Norman invasions, Caserta was subjected to new lords and was established the Caserta state, where feudalism and cavalry were introduced. During the medieval period, Casertavecchia was the city center, located at 401 meters high. In those years it was a bishop's center and numerous town planning changes were made, in fact buildings such as the Duomo with a bell tower, a Sicilian-Arab-Romanesque dome and the Church of the Annunziata were built. The city recovered during the reign of Count Roberto. The Bishop's Palace and the Canonical House were built. Later the kingdom passed to the Swabians, to the Angevins, up to the 16th century, when the city had a flourishing period, under the principality of Giulio Antonio and Andrea Matteo. In 1656, due to the plague, the population was decimated. The Bourbons arrived in Caserta in 1734 and, thanks to the Spanish dynasty, numerous architectural works were created, today a world heritage.
King Charles of Bourbon - image from<br>it.wikipedia.org
King Charles of Bourbon - image from
it.wikipedia.org

King Charles of Bourbon

King Charles III of Bourbon wanted the construction of a palace, which will take the name of the Royal Palace, whose project was entrusted to Luigi Vanvitelli, one of the greatest architects of the time. The other majestic Caserta palaces owe their birth to Ferdinando IV, who built a residence in San Leucio with an adjoining factory for the production of silk, together with the districts of San Carlo and San Ferdinando. Ferdinando wants a perfect society, with the abolition of luxury and economic equality for all its citizens, even if his project is not carried out. The construction of the Royal Palace of Caserta, however, was commissioned by the King of Naples Charles of Bourbon, who decided to create a palace that could be as impressive as that of Versailles and, for security reasons, the location of Casertavecchia was chosen, about 15 km north of the capital. The palace, known as the last creation of the Italian Baroque, was completed in 1845, counting 1,200 rooms and 1,742 windows. From the construction of the palace, the economy and life of the city moved around it. Following the defeat of the Bourbon army, in the battle of Volturno, Garibaldi set up his headquarters in Caserta. The victory led to the annexation of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies to the Kingdom of Sardinia. From 1860 to 1919, there was the period characterized by the domination of the Savoy. The city suffered a lot of damage after the Second World War, and recovered only in the 60s and 80s thanks to the building boom. To date, the history of the city is contained in the small village of Casertavecchia, although the fame of Caserta in the world is due to the beauty of the Royal Palace and the refinement of the San Leucio silks, among the most valuable in the world, which covers the walls of the Quirinale, White House and Buckingham Palace.
Royal Palace of Caserta - Photo by Pietro Ricciardi from Pixabay
Royal Palace of Caserta - Photo by Pietro Ricciardi from Pixabay

Royal Palace of Caserta

If you visit Caserta, we recommend that you start your tour with the majestic Royal Palace of Caserta , considered the largest royal residence in the world, included among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The palace, as mentioned above, is made up of 1200 rooms and covers an area of approximately 47 thousand m², also including the Royal Palace Park of Caserta, designed in the second half of the 18th century by the architect and engineer Luigi Vanvitelli. The works began in 1752 and continued, with some interruptions, until 1774. After the death of Luigi Vanvitelli, the works were continued by his son Carlo, who concluded them without completely respecting his father's plan. His project included a large rectangular building, with the same facades facing one onto the Piazza d'Armi, the other facing the garden and the four internal courtyards.
Throne of the King - Royal Palace of Caserta
Throne of the King - Royal Palace of Caserta

Royal Palace Museum Caserta Apartments

Inside the Royal Palace, there is a Pinacoteca divided into various sectors. The rooms of the art gallery have been set up to give importance to the works that document the various artistic and cultural influences of the Bourbon and Farnese clients: there is the Farnesian Fasti room, the Carlo di Borbone room, the Bourbon room in Naples, Spain and of France, the hall of Francis I and Ferdinand II. The park is a typical example of an Italian garden, built with vast lawns, square flower beds, and water features created by the fountains. The park also includes an English Garden built by Maria Carolina of Austria, enriched with exotic plants, greenhouses, flower beds and groves, which make this path unique. There will be a lot to visit, so arm yourself with comfortable shoes and enjoy this show.
San Leucio Caserta Silk Museum - Photo by SALVATORE MONETTI from Pixabay
San Leucio Caserta Silk Museum - Photo by SALVATORE MONETTI from Pixabay

Belvedere of San Leucio

The Belvedere of San Leucio is a monumental complex that includes the Royal Palace of the Belvedere, with some gardens, and is famous for the prestigious royal silk factory that is located inside. In the Silk Museum, there are the ancient tools and machinery used for the processing and production of silk, so renowned in the world as to be requested by clients such as the Vatican, Buckingham Palace and even the White House. A must to visit, when you are on a trip to Caserta, is Caserta Vecchia . Casertavecchia is a fortified medieval village 4 km from Caserta, with an irresistible charm, characteristic thanks to its narrow streets, its houses, restaurants and panoramic terraces, where you will relive the medieval atmosphere of the past. This village has been an Italian National Monument since 1960 and a sought after tourist destination, thanks to the beauty of the Duomo, the Bell Tower and the remains of the castle. The Cathedral was built in 1113 in Romanesque style, with an imposing bell tower 32 meters high. The castle, however, dates back to 879, and was built first for residential use, then fortified with four towers and a moat. In September the festival "September in the village" takes place with cultural shows, concerts and street food.
Carolino Aqueduct - Caserta
Carolino Aqueduct - Caserta

The Carolino Aqueduct

The Carolino Aqueduct is one of the most ingenious works created by the Bourbons. This aqueduct, also known as the Vanvitellian aqueduct, was built by Luigi Vanvitelli, to provide water resources to the cities of Caserta, the Royal Palace and the Royal Colony of San Leucio. Inspired by the model of the Roman aqueducts, this aqueduct remains an example of architectural, hydraulic and engineering grandeur and still retains an incredible charm. The Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo is the main church of the city of Caserta. It is located in the city center, and a few steps from the most famous streets of the city, such as Via Mazzini, Piazza Vanvitelli and the Reggia. The church, known as the Cathedral of Caserta, is presented in Baroque style and has three naves. Its facade has a large stone staircase and a portico closed by a gate. Inside you can admire various works of art and frescoes, such as The Triumph of St. Michael the Archangel on the Demon of Taglialatela and The Three Marys at the Sepulcher and Resurrection of Christ, created by Paolo de Matteis. In Caserta there is also a beautiful Planetarium , home to a small five-room museum, where guided tours and shows are organized, where you can explore the world of astronomy. The Royal Forest of San Silvestro was once a royal hunting reserve, while today it is an environmental center and WWF Oasis. It was born to offer eco-sustainable and respectful tourism, and inside there are several guided tours and numerous activities, carried out in respect of the environment. According to tradition, the Hermitage of San Vitalino was built by San Vitaliano during his hermitage in Miliarum, a town in the Caserta area, where he lived for some years performing miracles. Over the years the structure has been remodeled several times, altering the authenticity of its origins.

Movida and entertainment

In the evening, social life is concentrated mainly in the center, full of bars with a particular architecture, where you can treat yourself to an aperitif, such as the Gran Caffè Margherita, Baretto 99, Vieux Carrè or Mazzini Lounge . Along via Mazzini , known as one of the most elegant streets of the capital, it is possible to find great international brands, as Caserta was a well-known commercial city and there you can treat yourself to some shopping. In fact, there are numerous commercial streets, such as via San Giovanni, Corso Trieste, via Alois, via Vico, via San Carlo, via Pollio and via Crispo , without considering the shopping centers that are close to the city.
If after a walk, you want to enjoy good food, in Caserta there are different types of restaurants, such as Locanda Battisti , a trattoria that offers fresh fish at affordable prices, or even the Osteria da Miduccia , a typical tavern that offers numerous delicious dishes. You can also try "the best pizza in the world" from Pepe in Grani to Caiazzo (where, among other things, a tasting evening is organized, called Authentica) or from pizzerias such as I Masanielli . If you love gourmet cuisine, try Prosit , an elegant restaurant in the center of Caserta, where you will taste revisited traditional dishes. To eat good meat, instead there are The Meat, Punto 17 and Royal Malt . After dinner, you can go to Clandestine Roots to enjoy a good cocktail. If you want to go wild on the track, there are the Basile Apartment , the Mono Club House Music and Studio Uno .
For those who want to relax, there are also spas in Caserta, such as the Grand Hotel Vanvitelli and ITV Resort and Spa , or even the Terme di Telese.
For those wishing to immerse themselves in nature, there is the Bosco di San Silvestro which once, together with San Leucio, was part of the Royal Park and the English Garden. The forest has been recognized as a site of interest to the European Community and included in the UNESCO site and, to date, is a WWF oasis, which protects this place by also organizing numerous events.
Climate, curiosity and advice
Climate : in the province of Caserta there is the largest flat area in the region and the climate is affected. During the summer season, this area is one of the hottest in Campania, with maximum temperatures that can even reach 36 ° -38 °.
Winter in the Caserta plain is generally mild, but periods of intense cold cannot be excluded.
Curiosity : one of the most interesting anecdotes, concerning the Royal Palace of Caserta, concerns the cataloging of objects by Piedmontese officials, following the annexation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which took place in 1861. When officials were faced with an object never seen, a Savoy officer wrote: << strange unknown object in the shape of a guitar >>. That strange object was the bidet.
Tips : being the Royal Palace of Caserta invaded by tourists, we advise you to avoid the weekend to visit it. In addition, it is possible to previously purchase the ticket online, paying a surcharge of 1 euro.
To move inside the park, we recommend you take the shuttle that takes you to the top and go down on foot (if you are athletic, you can also go up on foot). Not to be missed is the bath of Venus, the most romantic corner of the park.
Italian cities of art