Royal Palace of Caserta

The Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence constructed by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies as their main residence as kings of Naples. It is the largest palace erected in Europe during the 18th century and largest former royal residence in the world, covering an area of 47,000 m2. In 1997, the palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Combining the influences of Versailles, Rome, and Tuscany, the Caserta Royal Palace and Park, north of Naples, was designed according to the wishes of Charles of Bourbon III by Luigi Vanvitelli, one of the greatest Italian architects of the 18th century. Commissioned in 1752, Caserta is considered a triumph of Italian Baroque, and ahead of its time. The palace has five floors, 1,200 rooms, a large library and a theatre modelled after the Teatro San Carlo of Naples.

The garden, a typical example of the Baroque extension of formal vistas, stretches for 120 ha, partly on hilly terrain. It is also inspired by the park of Versailles. The park starts from the back façade of the palace, flanking a long alley with artificial fountains and cascades. There is a botanical garden called 'The English Garden' in the upper part designed in the 1780s by Carlo Vanvitelli and the German-born botanist, nurseryman, plantsman-designer, John Graefer, trained in London and recommended to Sir William Hamilton by Sir Joseph Banks. It is an early Continental example of an English garden in the svelte naturalistic taste of Capability Brown.

Address
Viale Douhet 2, Caserta, Italy

Established
1752