Voices from the past

Caserta, the "royal" city, seat of the wonderful Reggia Vanvitelliana, is very ancient and it maintains one of the most impressive medieval towns in Italy. Known in ancient times as Galatea, its origin is Etruscan and it already existed in the 9th century BC. Later it was occupied by the Samnites and the Romans. The first Latin populations that occupied Caserta gave it the name of "Saticula" and, later, of "Casa Hirta", whence the current name.
Starting in the Middle Ages, the city saw the alternation of various dominations. First the Longobards and the Normans, who constituted the Casertan State.
Then it was dominated by the Swabians and the Angevins, before going to the Aragonians and the Bourbons. Precisely in this period the city went through its maximum splendour, when Charles III of Bourbon and Amalia of the Saxons chose it as their royal residence and commissioned architect Luigi Vanvitelli to start the building works of the Reggia
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Don't miss...

Of course visiting Caserta has to start from the Reggia. This work is an 18th century art masterpiece and it was designed following the project of Versailles, where Charles III had been educated. The visit of the Royal Palace takes up a lot of time, but what your eyes will look onto is worth any effort. The centre of the building is filled by the Scalone or large staircase, where you can see the allegorical figures of Majesty, Virtue and Merit. The inside of the Reggia is a constant follow through of architectonic and painting masterpieces of neo-classic style, from the antechambers to the royal apartments there are frescoes by Domenico Mondo, canvases by Philipp Hackert and sculptural complexes by Vanvitelli himself. A special mention is deserved by the immense outer gardens where, with the extraordinary water games, you can admire interesting marble sculptures. As well as the Reggia, Caserta has other attractions. The city preserves a beautiful medieval town, "casertavecchia", where you can see the remains of a castle dating back to the 11th century and a Cathedral built in the 12th century. Nearby, in S. Maria Capua Vetere, there is a Roman amphitheatre, one of the few monuments that has survived until today, dedicated to the cult of God Mitra.

Events

The events concerning art and culture are many and they involve a wide choice of events and happenings. For those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the city's history the Museo dell'Opera, rich with depictions of court life, and the Museo Vanvitelliano are a must. Also interesting are the Museo dell'Agricoltura Meridionale and the permanent exhibit "Terrae Motus", with works by modern artists, hosted in the Art Gallery of the Palazzo Reale.