Caserta between the Reggia, water engineering and nature

Caserta as a cultural and natural destination

Caserta combines courtly history, exceptional architecture and green landscapes to create a diverse destination. At its heart is the Reggia di Caserta: its foundation stone was laid in Caserta on January 20, 1752. The building has four courtyards and three atriums and forms part of the heritage ensemble added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. This combination alone makes the city interesting for you if you want to experience culture not only in individual exhibition rooms, but also in large architectural contexts.

Another focal point is San Leucio. The Belvedere di San Leucio was converted for silk production and processing in 1778; this led to the creation of the Colonia Reale di San Leucio. The laws of San Leucio enacted in 1789 regulated the colony. Its organization was considered by scholars an example of socialism avant la lettre. In 1997, the Belvedere was added to the World Heritage List together with the Reggia di Caserta and the Acquedotto Carolino. Here, history is therefore evident both in buildings and in the organization of social life.

Medieval Casertavecchia

Casertavecchia lies in the hills above Caserta and is a fully preserved medieval village. The Duomo di San Michele Arcangelo was built between 1153 and 1197. Its architecture combines Sicilian-Romanesque forms with Islamic and Gothic influences. The townscape also includes the bell tower, castle ruins and historic alleyways. Casertavecchia is therefore a tourist destination that offers a different perspective on the history of the area from the extensive royal residence.

The center of Casertavecchia is fully pedestrianized and has tourist services and information points. For you, this means clear orientation on site when exploring the cathedral, bell tower, ruins and alleyways without the character of a modern traffic area.

Water engineering, gardens and landscape

The Acquedotto Carolino is a work of hydraulic engineering designed by Luigi Vanvitelli. Its 38-kilometer course supplies the basins and fountains of the Parco Reale. After crossing the provinces of Benevento and Caserta, the route also passes through Caserta. In the park, the Via d’Acqua forms the central axis and completes the so-called telescope effect of the portico of the Reggia di Caserta. Water is therefore not merely a decorative element, but shapes the spatial impact of the complex.

The park architecture also deserves close attention. The Giardino Inglese of the Reggia di Caserta is one of the first examples of its kind in continental Europe. The Castelluccia, built in 1769, is an articulated ensemble of gardens and buildings dominated by an octagonal pavilion. Anyone who wants to read architecture and landscape together while traveling to Caserta will find different scales here, from the individual pavilion to the long water axis.

Nature, walks and local character

The Bosco di San Silvestro is home to seasonal migratory birds as well as resident birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects. The Oasi del Bosco di San Silvestro offers the interactive, approximately two-hour tour Percorso Natura. The Sentiero del miele includes a tasting of honey directly from the honeycomb. In the Bosco, a project using ecological farming methods is also reviving the traditional production of Pallagrello. Nature observation, guided experiences and regional agriculture stand closely side by side here, without requiring you to commit to a single travel theme.

Arrival and choosing where to stay

Caserta railway station is located directly opposite the Reggia di Caserta; access is via Piazza Carlo di Borbone. In addition, Reggia Express is a historic train service operated by Fondazione FS between Naples and Caserta. It runs with carriages from the Centoporte and Corbellini workshops dating from the 1930s and 1950s. When choosing your hotel, you can therefore first determine the focus of your stay: immediate access to the history of the residence and park, medieval architecture in Casertavecchia or nature experiences in the Bosco di San Silvestro.

Other places for orientation: Camigliano, San Felice A Cancello, Orta Di Atella, Casapulla, Corigliano, Carinola, Baia Domizia, Castel Volturno, Capodrise, San Tammaro, Piedimonte Matese, San Clemente, Roccamonfina, Ricci, San Castrese, Casagiove, Bellona, San Nicola La Strada, Castello Del Matese, Cellole Ce, Macerata Campania, Casanova, San Prisco, Statigliano, Sant'Angelo d'Alife, Gricignano di Aversa, Calvi Risorta, Marcianise, Aversa, Briano, Pratella, Vitulazio, Maddaloni, Rocca d'Evandro, Pontelatone, Arienzo, Falciano Del Massico, Presenzano, Alvignano, Annunziata, Cesa, San Pietro Infine, Conca Della Campania, Valle Di Maddaloni, Caianello Vecchio, Riardo, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Pastorano, Pietramelara, Gioia Sannitica, Mondragone, Lauro, Caserta, Torre Lupara, Prata sannita, Teano, Squille, Grottola, Liberi, Filorsi, Mignano Monte Lungo, Capua, Piccilli, Dragoni, Sessa Aurunca, Caiazzo, Villa Literno.

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