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Home > Travel Italy > Italy Destinations > Caserta
Caserta
Italy, officially the Italian Republic or Repubblica Italiana, is a Southern European country comprising of the Po River valley, the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it lo Stivale, the boot or, due to its prevalent peninsular geographical nature, la Penisola, the Peninsula.
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range. The city is best known for the Palace of Caserta.
Modern Caserta was established around the defensive tower built in Lombard times by Pando, Prince of Capua. Pando destroyed the original city around 863. The tower is now part of the Palazzo della Prefettura which was once the seat of the counts of Caserta, as well as a Royal residence. The original population moved from Casertavecchia to the current site in the 16th century. The city and vicinity were the property of the Acquaviva family, who, being pressed by huge debts, sold all the land to the royal family. The royal family then selected Caserta for the construction of their new palace.
Casertavecchia is the ancient centre of the comune and former bishopric seat. San Leucio, seat of famous Royal silk workshops, also included in the World Heritage List. Falciano is a former bishop seat; it includes a 16th century palace. Piedimonte di Casolla has an ancient Benedictine abbey, built over a Roman temple dedicated to Diana. Other sub-divisions includes Aldifreda, Briano, Casola, Casolla, Centurano, Pozzovetere, Puccianiello, San Benedetto, Sala di Caserta, Santa Barbara, San Clemente, Staturano, Tredici, Tuoro.
Caserta's main attraction is its Royal Palace. The palace was created in the 18th century by the Dutch architect Luigi Vanvitelli as a Versailles like residence for the Bourbon kings of Naples and Sicily.
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