City Overview

Here, Italy is Italy plus. In the heart of the Campania region, just 30 minutes by car from Naples airport and very close to the centre of Caserta, the historical city of the House of Bourbon. At the centre of one of the world’s most important cultural areas, a few minutes from the city of Naples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum, and close to the UNESCO protected majestic Royal Palace of Caserta. A magical place where winter is never bitter and the colours of spring and summer glow all year round. An area that is totally unique.

The Royal Palace of Caserta

Built in the mid-18th century at the behest of Charles III de Bourbon, the royal Palace of Caserta is the work of Luigi Vanvitelli, one of the leading architects of the day. The king wanted him to create a palace that would rival those of Europe’s most splendid royal courts; Vanvitelli’s architectural genius enabled him to design exactly what the sovereign wanted. Today, the palace is still one of Italy’s most magnificent architectural complexes and, together with its impressive park and gardens, attracts thousands of international visitors every year. The Royal Palace has a rectangular plan divided into four spacious inner courtyards which all give access to large, octagonal vestibule at the main entrance to the palace. From the vestibule, a monumental marble staircase leads to the state apartments, which form an enfilade of richly frescoed rooms decorated with statuary, stucco work, gilding and period furniture. A thorough visit would take a whole day, but just a few hours are enough to take in the magnificence of the palace, the court theatre (a smaller version of the San Carlo theatre in Naples) and the Palatine Chapel, which was inspired by the royal chapel at Versailles. The rear façade looks out onto a magnificent 120-hectare park set around a double central avenue over three kilometres long. The first part of the park is an immense Italian garden with walks leading to fountains decorated with mythological statues and to the Peschiera Grande (Great Fish-Pond). The central, most spectacular part is set on the slope of a woody hill in a stunning succession of fountains and pools featuring monumental sculptural groups, ending with the Grande Cascata (Great Waterfall). Each year, the park is beautifully illuminated from July to October and hosts concerts and other public performances.

Around Caserta

Although the royal palace is Caserta’s top tourist attraction, there are many other interesting things to see near the town. Medieval Casertavecchia is undoubtedly worth a visit. Its old stones houses and labyrinthine layout of narrow streets give it a timeless, fairytale air. The tiny village is set at an altitude of 400m and its panoramic vantage point commands a sweeping view of the plain below and the royal palace. On clear days one can see as far as Mt Vesuvius and the islands in the Bay of Napes. Other interesting monuments are the Romanesque cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, the church of the Annunciata, the bell tower whose pierced base serves as a gateway into the village, and into the castle, where one can contemplate the remains of the tower and a short stretch of the ancient walls.

Another very interesting place to visit is the Belvedere di San Leucio, Ferdinando IV’s hunting lodge that the king decided to transform into a fully-fledged industrial village for silk production. He called it Ferdinandopoli. This ideal community, organised on innovative lines of social equality, was designed on a circular plan. At the centre was the silk factory surrounded by houses for the workers who made the silks, velvets and gorgeous satins that are still considered amongst the finest in the world. There are many works of outstanding artistic or cultural interest, such as the Parish of San Ferdinando Re, the frescoes in the dining room and in Maria Carolina’s bathroom, and the Silk Museum. The Belvedere has long been a magnificent venue for special events and exhibitions and since 2006 it hosts the special event Textile Art Innovation to promote San Leucio’s exclusive textiles.

Naples

A city of fascinating contrasts, Naples is set on one of the world’s most beautiful bays, dominated by Mt Vesuvius’ majestic presence. Its long history is to be seen in remains which range from Greek-Roman to Neoclassic and include the Aragonese and Angevin periods and Baroque richness. Naples is a unique weave of alleys and squares, perfumes and colours, monuments, churches and the fine homes of the aristocracy. The city’s vibrant cultural history has produced such world-famous monuments as the Castel dell’Ovo, the Maschio Angioino, the Royal Palace, the Royal Palace of Capodimonte, numerous splendid churches and some of the most important national museums such as the Archaeological Museum and the museums of Capodimonte and San Martino. Just as fascinating is Naples’ other side, such as Spaccanapoli with its many artisan’s workshops, the irresistible pastry shops and the famous Nativity-scene workshops; or Posillipo with an observation point commanding a view of the whole bay, making it one of the loveliest parts of Naples.

The Bay of Naples and the islands

A tour of the beautiful islands in the Bay of Naples is an unforgettable experience. Starting with Ischia, famous for its thermal springs, then the peaceful atmosphere of Procida and, ultimately, Capri, known all over the world for its unparalleled natural beauty and major archaeological remains. Natural wonders, such as the Faraglioni or the Blue Grotto, the perfume of flowers and the towering cliffs that plummet to a crystal sea, create a unique backdrop to ancient alleyways, tiny churches and the grand villas of poets and emperors. Perhaps the greatest example of such villas is Villa Jovis, the most important Roman remains on the island, built by Tiberius in the early 1st century AD. Capri is also a symbol of “La Dolce Vita”, in its famous main square, filled with designer boutiques and exclusive cafés, buzzes with nightlife as the beau monde and everyone else comes to enjoy one of the most fascinating places in the Mediterranean.

The Amalfi Coast

Little bays and inlets, sheer cliffs and picturesque villages perched on hilltops, world-famous places full of history – all to be found at every turn on one of the most stunning stretches of Mediterranean coastline. The first part, starting from Sorrento, is like a terrace overlooking the sea amid the perfumes of lemon, olive and walnut groves and continues along the coast to become what is known as the Amalfi Coast. Also called the “divine coast”, this part of the coastline offers scenery of unparalleled beauty and famous tourist resorts such as Positano, with its steep, narrow streets and elegant craft shops, or Amalfi, famous for the polychrome majolica-tiled dome of its cathedral, or Ravello which may be considered as one huge monument with its enchanting gardens and beautiful historical villas and churches.

Herculaneum, Pompeii, Paestum

Frozen in time by Mt Vesuvius’ catastrophic eruption in 79 AD, Pompeii and Herculaneum give us a unique view into history with their comprehensive representation of society and everyday life in Roman times. Set at the foot of the volcano, the two archaeological sites contain magnificent traces of the past, from basilicas to sumptuous private villas, public baths and amphitheatres, simple homes and craft workshops. Everything is immersed in an unreal atmosphere that makes your visit an unforgettable experience. Another stunning historical site is Paestum, undoubtedly the most beautiful city of Magna Graecia. The town boasts three of the world’s best preserved Greek temples and a museum with some of the most outstanding examples of Greek art in Italy. By virtue of their totally unique artistic and cultural value, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.