La Royal Palace of Caserta was the masterpiece of the architect Luigi Vanvitelli, who began building it in 1752, by order of Charles III of Bourbon, struck by the beauty of the Casertan territory and eager to emulate the grandeur of the residences of the French dynasties, foremost among them, that of Versailles.
Work on the Royal Palace of Caserta was completed in 1774, under the reign of Ferdinand IV, delivering to the client a fairy-tale complex, composed of the Palace and a large park in which two sectors can be identified: the Italian-style garden and the English garden. Being one of the largest royal buildings in the world (a good 1200 rooms), the Royal Palace of Caserta lends itself to being visited also by sectors. With little time available, for example, one can admire only the Palace, accessed by climbing the 116 steps of the imposing grand staircase.
Notable inside are the furnishings and decorations of the royal apartments; the lavish Throne Room, rich in paintings and gilding; the curious period objects collected in some rooms, including the cradles and toys of the young Bourbons. Unique is the room of Joachim Murat, survived even in the post-Napoleonic era, all in Empire style, with mahogany furniture and chairs with Murat’s initials. Having entered the immense nave atrium, one can also choose to visit only the park of the Royal Palace of Caserta, which occupies an area of 120 hectares, laid out along an axis about 3 kilometers long.
