The city of Caserta developed around the famous Bourbon castle, which altered the name of a small, medieval centre located on a nearby hill, today known as Caserta Vecchia.
The Royal Palace and the ancient district, as well as Belvedere di San Leucio, are compulsory visits to discover the treasures of the city.
The Royal Palace was designed, on the order of Charles of Bourbon, by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli to celebrate the European importance of the Kingdom of Naples. Work began in 1752 and lasted twenty-two years. The result is a palace covering a surface area of over 45,000 metres squared, divided among four courtyards, 1,200 rooms on 5 floors, 34 stairs, 1,970 windows and a garden with a fountain supplied by a purpose built aqueduct (the Carolino aqueduct measuring 41 kilometres).
The Royal Palace is a real work of architectural and decorative art: moving inside, you will be amazed by the continuous works of art, the stucco, bas-reliefs, frescoes, sculptures and floor inlay. The main door leads to the majestic atrium. From here, climbing the main staircase, you reach the Palatine Chapel and the sumptuous royal apartments. The large rooms host paintings by artists from the period and Rococo and Neo-Classic furniture.
In Caserta you should also visit the ancient residence of Acquaviva d'Aragona, in Piazza Vanvitelli, the Neo-Classic cathedral and the Church of St. Augustine in Viale Mazzini, which hosts works by Giacinto Diano, Domenico Mondo, Bardellino and Antonio Dominici.
A visit to the Casertine chief town is not complete without a walk around the medieval district of Caserta Vecchia and Belvedere di San Leucio.