A Guide to Caserta

Caserta is a small city 27 km away from Naples. The origins of this town are still uncertain: someone says it was founded by the Samnites, others says by the Romans. However, the most common opinion is that it was the Longobards from Capua that settled first in the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, the town was under the rule of the Capuas family.

More importance Caserta gains during the 18th century, when Caserta's most famous sight, the Baroque Reggia (Royal Palace) was achieved and the city of Caserta was the country seat of the Kings of Naples.

As the Italian challenge to the magnificence of Versailles, the Royal Palace of Naples at Caserta is one of the most extraordinary accomplishments of 18th-century art and architecture. With 1200 spectacularly furnished rooms and 34 grand staircases, it is a monument to the splendour of its age.

The palace is set in beautifully landscaped park, whose stunning waterfalls and fountains were created 250 years ago with the construction of a 30-mile long aqueduct. Visitors in Caserta are welcomed by the typical quiet of the past. The ancient part of the town is as still as it was centuries ago and preserves the evidences of its history and art.