Royal Palace in Caserta (Italy): description, address, photo

The large Italian city of Caserta is located in the region of Campania. It is an important business, industrial and commercial center of the country. Popular among tourists from all over the world thanks to the magnificent construction - the royal palace in Caserta. Naples - one of the most popular tourist centers of the country - is located just forty kilometers north of the city.

Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see one of the most beautiful palace and park complexes in Europe: the royal palace in the Caserta of the Bourbon dynasty, which ruled the Kingdom of Naples in the 18th and 19th centuries, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Fund in 1997.

A bit of history

On the site where today is located Caserta, there was a settlement even before the arrival of the Romans. As a result of the war for Polish domination, Caserta fell under the rule of the Naples Bourbons (one of the branches of the dynasty). This period in the history of the city the researchers consider the peak of prosperity.

Charles VII in 1750 decided to build a new residence near Naples, but far from the sea. The king wished the palace to become the most grandiose of all European. Especially he dreamed of surpassing Versailles (France). For a long time could not choose an architect, but eventually they became Luigi Vanvitelli.

The famous master arrived in Caserta only in 1751 and began work on a project that took more than six months. The first stone was laid in the beginning of 1752, timed to coincide with the birthday of Charles VII. A year later, they began to break the park.

Originally planned to build the Royal Palace in Caserta (Italy) for ten years, but in 1759 Charles VII left the country, and all the construction work went to his successors, who were not too smart. In 1779, Vanavitelli died, and the construction began to be directed by his son Carlo. Notable inhabitants inhabited the palace already in 1780, but construction continued until 1845.

Royal Palace in Caserta: description

The palace in the plan is a rectangle, inside which there are four courtyards. Cross-passages divided the space into sectors. The median arches in the walls are passageways from one courtyard to another. The length of the facade is 247 meters, the walls - 185 meters.

The Royal Palace in Caserta (photo you can see below) is a five-story building with a height of thirty-six meters. The complex has over one thousand two hundred rooms. By the time the Royal Palace in Caserta was completed, the fashion for Baroque splendor had gradually disappeared, and this was the end of the imitation of Versailles. For this reason, the new halls were designed in Empire style.

A park

At the royal palace in Caserta a huge park with a cascade of fountains, shady alleys, gardens and terraces is broken. Kazertsky Park occupies a vast territory of 120 hectares. The park zone stretches along a cascade of avenues and fountains down the slope. Particularly beautiful at any time of year are the fountains of Action and Diana, dolphins, Adonis and Venus. There is also a botanical garden, designed by John Grapher and Carlo Vanvitelli.

Main staircase

This ladder, according to experts, is the heart of the royal palace in Caserta - a great combination of classicism and baroque. The central span is crowned by two marble lions. Then it bifurcates and goes into parallel side marches.

On the stairs are three niches with statues that were to be made of marble, but for some reason they remained plaster prototypes.

Codex

From the upper vestibule, tourists usually get to the upper level of the palace, where you can admire the luxurious ceilings painted by the most famous Italian artists. Here, on a special pedestal under the second vault, there were orchestra players.

Palatine Chapel

She is in the mezzanine of the palace. The chapel was opened in 1784. On the main altar is the canvas "Immaculate Conception" painted by Giuseppe Bonito. This is one surviving work from those that were ordered specifically for the chapel.

Alexandra's salon

This hall is entirely dedicated to the legendary Macedonian commander. It is located in the center of the building and separates the rooms of the XVIII century from the halls of the XIX century. The salon was painted by the Sicilian Mariano Rossi in 1787. He portrayed the "Wedding of Roxanne and Alexander the Great" in order to glorify the prosperity of the kingdom and the world. Over the fireplace you can see a marble high relief depicting the profile of Alexander, framed by laurel branches.

Hall of Mars

This room belongs to the apartment of Marshal Napoleon Joachim Murat. Unusual neoclassical decor glorifies the valor of the soldiers, allowing the French to conquer the kingdom. This room is dedicated to the god of war Mars. The decoration and decoration of the hall was occupied by Antonio Simone.

Astrea Hall

It was intended for high-ranking employees and envoys, state secretaries and other privileged persons. He got his name from the mural on the vault, where the "Triumph of Astrea" is depicted. This goddess was a symbol of justice, and it was believed that in the Golden Age she lived among people.

Throne room

This room was designed especially for a long time and underwent numerous changes during the work. Long walls adorn 28 pilasters of the Corinthian order with the symbols of the Bourbons. The architrave, which encircles the hall, forms portraits of the rulers. In its center is a fresco, made in 1844 by a master from Naples, Gennaro Maldarelli.

In the depths of the hall is a throne made of gilded carved wood, and its armrests are shaped like winged lions with sirens, which are the symbols of Naples.

How to get there?

The Royal Palace in Caserta, whose address: Viale Douhet, 2 / A, Caserta (CE), is located in the center of the city. You can get here by train or car from Naples on your own or in any of the excursion groups that are formed in Caserta.