Caserta Travel Guide - Campania
1. The city and the Royal Palace
What can you visit and enjoy in Caserta?
First of all, a stroll through the historic center.
The cafes of Via Mazzini will surprise you and the small but beautiful cathedral dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel will give to you its majestic interior, completely unexpected.
Piazza Vanvitelli, is the heart of the ancient town and alla round its shape it was formed the new city, after the Norman invasion. The square is quite the civil and commercial center of Caserta, with the little church San Francesco di Paola where it is buried Vanvitelli.
2. A Bike itinerary inside the Park of Caserta Royal Palace
The "Versailles of the Bourbons" (Royal Palace) is a magnificent example of the Picturesque taste of Romantic style and can be visited riding through vast green areas and monuments of historical and architectural interest.
The beautiful park, which stretches on a surface of about 120 ha., is full of fountains and statues. It is situated on the top of a hill and surrounded by green.
Bikes can be rented within the park and a big adventure will take you through the maze of green Campania. The walk is suitable for everybody and involves only two critical points: one next to the waterfall of the Dolphins Neapolitan Gaetano Solomon, the other near the Fountain of Aeolus. At the end of the path you can enter to the English Garden, and see the statues of "Diana and the nymphs" and "Actaeon turned into a stag and attacked by his dogs," works by Paolo Sorrentino Persian, the most active artists in the court of the Bourbons.
The other smaller sculptures are Brunelli’s, such as the "Wedding of Thetis and Peleus," the "Judgment of Paris", "Jupiter against the three goddesses" and the "Marriage of Paris".
At the top of the hill you can enjoy the comfortable refreshment offered by the English garden that can only be visited by walk. Do not miss the great fishpond, designed by Luigi Vanvitelli and built by Francesco Collecini, 270 meters of clear waters...
Its wealthy vegetation (including exotic plants, such as camphor trees), its abundance of waters and statues makes it an unique complex of its kind.
3. Taste and local food
In Caserta cuisine is delicious and simple.
Among the most famous recipes let’s mention parmigiana, which is a succulent blend of baked eggplant with mozzarella, grated cheese and tomato; the friarelli, vegetables cooked in a pan with oil, garlic and chili, and pasta with chickpeas.
You also have to try the black pig from Caserta! Excellent meat and tender taste. It is a must togheter with pizza, served "At the loggia", "Da Ciro" or "Al solito posto". Great sea fish and all the typical products of southern Italy such as buffalo mozzarella, casatiello, olives and struffoli.
Tagliatelle with mushrooms, however, are a Caserta Vecchia’s specialty.
Do not forget Mela Annurca, a fruit to be enjoyed strictly Km0: crispy, tasty and flavored.
At “Tana Del Lupo” you can eat dishes of the local tradition, cooked with style and curiosity.
Let’s discover the Restaurant “La Gatta Mangiona”, tavern specialized in Caserta recipes.
4. Casertavecchia, the natural hot springs and the surroundings
All around the city of Caserta you can go back in centuries in the medieval Casertavecchia, with its little Norman Cathedral, bell tower, and the Lombard castle that recall splendor of the past time.
The view is incredible and the village is often animated by folk events, such as the return of the knights in the village and Settembre al Borgo, which take place during the summer.
Not far from St. Leucio village you will find Capua (12 km), Santa Maria Capua Vetere and Maddaloni. Here you can admire an underestimated gewel, the so-called Acquedotto vanvitelliano (or bridge Valley). From Taburno it takes water to the Royal Palace of Caserta; the bridge, still perfectly preserved, connects Longano Mount with Garzano Mount. A powerful and colossal structure with three orders of arches, 60 meters high, on the model of the Roman aqueducts. At the time of construction it was the longest bridge all over Europe.
In the surroundings there are also numerous hot springs as Triflisco, Riardo and Theano, to heal your body and mind and to find yourself in full contact with nature.
5. Where to stay in Caserta and surroundings
Discover all eco-friendly accommodations in the province of La Spezia, organic agritourism surrounded by olive groves and woods, or cozy B&B set in old villages.
