The city of Caserta is the capital Caserta province of the southern Campania region. Sitting some 30 km north of Naples, this town is a commercial, agricultural as well as an industrial hub. It particularly excels in domains such as food processing and glass making. But that doesn’t really interest any of the passing travelers. They flock in town for a whole different reason; a reason that takes things to do in Caserta to a whole new level!
King Charles, hungry to build a palace worthy of a Bourbon king and one that could best Versailles, gave Caserta its famed ‘Reggia di Caserta’. The palace has all the eccentricity one could expect from a royal residence. The opulent palace boasts 1,200 rooms spread over five imposing floors. There are two main sections to it, the representational spaces and the Royal Apartments. Stroll through the endless corridors and descend the fairytale-like staircases. Admire vast frescoed ceilings, decorations, chandeliers, and baroque furniture. Out of all the things to see in Caserta, the Royal Palace of Caserta is an absolute must!
Just short 10 km (6 miles) from the Royal Palace of Caserta resides the old town, Caserta Vecchia. Sitting at the foot of Mount Virgo, this lovely medieval and incredibly medieval hamlet was founded by Lombards in the 8th century. Looking in, the rustic simplicity and quiet that envelopes this old settlement will mesmerize you. Looking out, you will catch splendid views of the Caserta plains. The life in the village was never simple, but the people who lived here were resilient. Besides humble residences, you can admire a lovely cathedral boasting Arabic, Norman and Sicilian art as well as the ruins of the former castle. Let's go
San Leucio complex was created by Bourbon King Ferdinando IV as a “utopia” town. Instead of using the land as a summer retreat as his father intended, he decided to build a village. To be precise, a complete village complex called Ferdinandopoli representing the ideal city to rival, once again, Versailles and the Royal Palace of Madrid. It was to be a combined residential-workplace location dedicated to his silk manufacture. In other words, San Leucio was Ferdinand's vision for the social Enlightenment utopia. If unsure about what to do in Caserta, travel in time to San Leucio Complex and get a taste of the past. Let's go