La Palace of Caserta was the masterpiece of the architect Luigi Vanvitelli, who began building it in 1752, by order of Charles III of Bourbon, impressed by the beauty of the Caserta territory and eager to emulate the grandeur of the residences of the French dynasties, first among all, that of Versailles.
The works for the Palace of Caserta were completed in 1774, under the reign of Ferdinand IV, delivering to the client a fabulous complex, consisting of the Palace and a large park, which includes two sections: the Italian garden and the English garden. Being one of the largest royal buildings in the world (with as many as 1200 rooms), the Palace of Caserta is suitable for sector visits as well. If time is short, one can, for example, 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 with paintings and gilding; the curious period objects collected in some rooms, including cradles and toys of the young Bourbons. Remarkable is the room of Joachim Murat, which survived even in the post-Napoleonic era, all in Empire style, with mahogany furniture and chairs with Murat’s own initials. Upon entering the immense nave hall, one can also opt for a visit only to the park of the Palace of Caserta, which covers an area of 120 hectares, arranged along an axis about 3 kilometers long.
