CASERTA

'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.

Contents

History

Main sights

Trivia

External links

History

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 (former bishopric seat) 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, which, being in land was seen as more defensible than the previous palace fronting the Bay of Naples.
Caserta was the birthplace of the Italian writer Maria Valtorta.

Main sights

★ Caserta's main attraction is its Royal Palace (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The palace was created in the 18th century by the Dutch architect Luigi Vanvitelli as a Versailles-like residence ("Reggia") for the Bourbon kings of Naples and Sicily. It is one of the most visited monuments in the country. In it you can find more than 1200 rooms, decorated in various styles. It has been the set for famous movies, the first three episodes of Star Wars and St. Peter's cathedral in Mission impossible III.THe park is long 2 miles and contains many falls, lakes and gardens, as the very famous English gardens

★ ''Palazzo Vecchio'' ("Old Palace"), a construction of the 14th century renovated by Luigi Vanvitelli as provisional residence for the royal court.

★ The Cathedral (18th century).
==''Frazioni''==

★ Casertavecchia is the ancient centre of the ''comune'' and former bishopric seat.

★ San Leucio resort, seat of famous Royal silk workshops, also included in the World Heritage List.

★ Vaccheria, which housed the stable of the Royal cattle.

★ 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 ''frazioni'' include: Aldifreda, Briano, Casola, Casolla, Centurano, Ercole, Garzano, Mezzano, Pozzovetere, Puccianiello, Sala di Caserta, San Benedetto, San Clemente, Santa Barbara, Staturano, Tredici, Tuoro.

Trivia

Caserta is the ancestral home of the Sopranos character Jennifer Melfi.

External links

★ Photographs of the Reggia of Caserta

★ Photographs of Casertavecchia

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