The Royal Palace of Caserta, Unesco World Heritage Site in Campania, Italy

The Royal Palace of Caserta

The universally famous Royal Palace of Caserta is the pride of all the magnificent works and constructions by which the Bourbon dynasty adorned and modernised the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was designed and mostly built by the Dutch architect Ludwig Van Wittel, who received the Italian onomatopoeic name of Vanvitelli. He was called to Naples by King Charles of Bourbon, who, as real grandchild of the Roi Soleil, wanted to build a new Royal Palace, a “residence” fit for a Bourbon King and his Court. The palace - in the King’s intentions - had to be the most beautiful and largest royal palace in the world after Versailles, a pride for the new Kingdom he had conquered and a further evidence of his willingness to make this Kingdom an independent and sovereign one.

Charles personally followed the work together with the Queen and they both were Vanvitelli’s inspirers, however without modifying the original design of the great architect. It was an excellent “union of souls”: evidence of this is given by Vanvitelli himself, in his periodic letters to his brother, where he always expressed his joy for the attention that the two Sovereigns paid to his work and for the good understanding that made the work progress quickly and with great profit. Its foundation stone was laid on 20 January 1752 in an official ceremony celebrating the 36th birthday of King Charles. Vanvitelli had presented his project the previous year, on 2 May 1751. Charles and Maria Amalia were so enthusiast that the architect wrote his brother that reality had overcome his best expectations. The Palace had been designed as a huge building with twin facades, one looking on to the parade ground, the other to the gardens. The central dome and the statue of Charles on the gable in the middle of the facade were present in the original design but were never accomplished. For the first time, the central stairway leading to the royal apartments (at whose entrance we now find the Public Administration School), was put at the centre of a building.

In the choice of the site, which had belonged to the family of the Princes Gaetani di Sermoneta, foe of the Bourbons, climatic motives were predominant – salubrity of air and fertility of soil – strategic reasons, being the distance from the sea and the consequent risk of naval gunfire, and political-economic ones regarding the development of hitherto neglected land. Several architects were considered, finally Luigi Vanvitelli was given the charge, already designer and architects in the service of the Pope.

The construction of the Reggia continued at a good pace until 1759, the year in which Charles of Bourbon left the kingdom of Naples to take up the crown of Spain. Thereafter building slowed down, and at Vanvitelli’s death in 1773 it was still far from being completed. Up to 2681 workers were engaged simultaneously on the yard, of whom 300 master masons, 166 convicts, 245 Turkish Mohammedans captured on the pirate ships that infested the Mediterranean, 160 Christians guilty of misdemeanour; all under supervision of 438 guards, 14 administrators and 3 directors. According to the reports of the times, for the transportation and the removal of materials, aside from horses and donkeys, camels and elephants were used! It was not until 1847 that the Throne Room was finished and the work could finally be considered completed.

In total, the Palace has 1200 rooms! It is one of the most famous and loved architectural masterpieces in the world.

No description can convey the beauty of the wonderful gardens and their enchanting sculptures, that can only be appreciated while personally seen. Only a visit to the place can give merit to the splendour of the Palace and the munificence of the Bourbons.

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USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 800 509 8194
UK Toll Free: 0 800 047 0248
International: +41 91 220 0567
Italy: +39 089 842 6126
Email: info@summerinitaly.com