Italy is known for its exceptional natural beauty, spectacular landscape, and stunning art and architecture. Home to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, Italy has inherited many stunning architectural jewels. One such rich historical pride is the Royal Palace of Caserta. Built in 1752, Reggia di Caserta was Charles VII’s answer to the rival Palace of Versailles in France. He hired the famous local architect Luigi Vanvitelli for this coveted project. True to its intent this enormous palace with its opulence and class has earned the status of a UNESCO World heritage site. Situated just about 30 kilometers from Naples, this royal residence in the countryside makes for a perfect destination for a day trip from Naples.
Royal Palace of Caserta - In a Nutshell
Royal Palace of Caserta - Things to know
| 📍 Location: | Naples |
| ⏰ Suggested Duration: | 3 Hours |
| ☀️ Best Time to Visit: | Any time of the year |
| 🎟️ Van Gogh Museum Tickets: | €19 |
Royal Palace of Caserta Opening Hours
• Sunday - Saturday: 08:30 AM to 19:30 PM
• Tuesday - Closed
Must-see at Royal Palace of Caserta
The Grand Staircase
Palatine Chapel
English Gardens
Throne Room
Royal Palace of Caserta Address
Piazza Carlo di Borbone,
81100 Caserta CE, Italy
Get Directions
Why You Should Visit the Royal Palace of Caserta
Royal Palace of Caserta is a magnificent colossal palace in the true sense. Surrounded by landscaped parks, gardens, water features, and natural woodland, this huge monumental palace has a 250 metre long facade. With four courtyards and three atriums, extensive and opulent interiors based on Baroque style, the Reggia di Caserta is a sight to behold. Used as a setting in many famous movies the largest royal residence in the world leaves you completely mesmerised with its lofty ornate ceilings, embellished columns, splendid statues, rich furnishings, and so much more. Well connected to Naples and surrounding areas, La Reggia di Caserta should be on the itinerary of every traveller to Southern Italy.
Royal Palace of Caserta Tickets
Royal Palace of Caserta Priority Entrance Ticket
- Skip the line and experience of the largest royal palace in the world as you take a peek into the rich lives of the Bourbon kings who once lived there.
- Explore the royal parks and gardens with amazing landscaping plush with water bodies, statues, carvings and optical illusions.
- Witness the lions, the columns, the statues, the great vast ceilings, and the opulence of Baroque architecture as you explore the interiors of this majestic Caserta palace.
- You can rent audio guides at the Royal Palace of Caserta at a surcharge of €5. The guide in available in the following languages: Italian, French, English and German
History of the Reggia Di Caserta
Inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France, the Bourbon king of Naples, Charles VII, ordered the construction of this colossal palace in the year 1752. The plan was to have a city housing not just the court and king, but all the important people of the kingdom with their own university, museum, library, cabinet bureaus, defence mechanism, and just about everything else. Local Neapolitan architect Luigi Vanvitelli was appointed for this esteemed project.
While the construction of the palace was still on, King Charles had to abdicate the throne as he took over as the king of Spain in 1759 and never got to live in Reggia di Caserta. The construction was completed under his third son Ferdinand IV in 1780 by Vanvitelli's son Carlo after the death of his father. Once finished the enormous Caserta Italia was the largest royal palace in the world spread over an area of 235,000 m² surrounded by hundreds of hectares of parks and gardens.
About the Palace
Reggia di Caserta, though inspired by the Versailles Palace, exceeds the latter in its beauty and magnitude. Spread over five floors, this neoclassical palace has a massive facade of 250m, boasts of 1200 rooms, 1790 windows, and 34 staircases. Divided into common spaces and royal apartments, Reggia di Caserta reeks of opulence and richness. The vast frescoed ceilings and walls, gilded decorations and carvings, splendid chandeliers and Baroque furniture, all epitomise grandiose.
The Grand Staircase, featuring two parallel staircases and large marble statues of lions, is one of the most eminent elements of the palace. The elegant archways which lead up to the famous Palatine Chapel (inspired by a chapel of the same name at Versailles) of the palace are most impressive. The Royal Palace of Caserta is also home to one of its kind art gallery, The Terrae Motus Collection, and its exquisite Royal Court Theater is now open to public.
Surrounded by 120 hectares of greens, the gardens of the palace designed in 1780s have a spectacular Baroque style. Spreading out over the hills the elegantly landscaped park has many beautiful waterfall, streams and the stunning fountain of Diana. The famous English Garden called Giardino Inglese, within the park has arrays of romantic pathways, exotic species of plants and flowers, pools, and cascades to please your senses.
Must See at the Royal Palace of Caserta
The Grand Staircase
The Grand Staircase is truly an architectural masterpiece of two parallel staircases based on 17th-century scenographic arts. As you climb up this impressive 32m high staircase which connects the lower and upper vestibules, you are stupefied by the large marble statues of lions and the great background wall displaying the statues of the royal majesty, merit, and truth. The staircases end into elegant temple like arches and columns which lead to the Palatine Chapel.
Palatine Chapel
Inspired by the Palatine Chapel of Versailles, this Chapel has surpassed its ideal. The neoclassical architecture blends Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque traditions. It was majorly damaged due to bombing during World War II, destroying its ceiling, columns, walls, and priceless pieces of art. Through consistent efforts over the years, it has since been restored to its former glory.
English Gardens
This beautiful garden was created by English gardener John Andrew Graefer and architect Carlo Vanvitelli on personal request of the Queen Maria Carolina. Spread over 24 hectares, the English garden is landscaped with rare plants from all over the world, manmade hills, meadows, ponds, and canals. It also has orangeries and green houses for rare botanical species.
Throne Room
Completed in 1845, the Throne Room is 40m long, with the walls lined by 28 fluted twin Corinthian columns. The ceiling has a massive fresco of The Laying of the First Stone of the Royal Palace of Caserta, made by Gennaro Maldarelli in 1844. The Throne Room (Sala del Trono), along with the Astrea Room (Sala di Astrea) and the Mars Room (Sala di Marte) were used as reception rooms for important people.
Practical Information
Timings
The Royal Palace of Caserta is open on all days of the week except on Tuesdays. Each section within the Palace has a different timing through which it is open:
- Historical Apartments: 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM with the last admission at 6:45 PM
- Park: Nov-Feb - 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM; Mar - 8:30 AM - 4 PM; Apr-Sep - 8:30 AM - 6 PM; Oct: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- English Garden: Nov-Feb - 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM; Mar - 8:30 AM - 3 PM; Apr-Sep - 8:30 AM - 5 PM; Oct: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
How to Get There
- Caserta, Italy located at the edge of Campania, is about 35 kms from Naples and about 54 kms from Pompeii and about 170 kms from Rome.
- To get to Caserta from Rome or Pompeii, one needs to take a train to ‘Napoli Centrale' station in Naples, from where there are multiple trains to Caserta. It takes about 45 mins by train from Naples to Caserta. The Royal Palace of Caserta is just across the street and hardly takes 5 mins to walk.
- One can also go from Naples to Caserta conveniently by car. Reasonable underground parking is easily available.There are also private tours available between Naples and Caserta.
Royal Palace of Caserta Reviews
We spent several hours here at the palace and walking some of the property. Family told us about this amazing Royal palace. It is beautiful and equal in our opinion to Versailles. The decorations and history of this palace one cannot miss. Everything about the palaces is unique to the history and culture of southern Italy.
Bob C, TripAdvisor, June 2018
Spent an amazing day at this Royal palace. The decoration of the rooms is stupendous with so much to see and absorb. Great that you can go at your own pace and really enjoy it. We had a nice pasta for lunch at the restaurant and then caught the bus to the waterfall, strolled around the gardens and wall back along the water garden. Really enjoyed the beauty. We got there using the bus service from Naples ona shuttle leaving from Piazza Municipio (Largo Castello) and the service was excellent with a very helpful driver. A must see if you want to position yourself in the historical era of Naples many phases.
David F, TripAdvisor, June 2018
See what others have to say about the Reggia di Caserta on TripAdvisor.
Tips
- The Royal Palace of Caserta and its gardens are huge. Be prepared for a long walk and at least 4 hours of time to explore the palace comfortably. To this end, ensure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
- The Palace of Caserta draws a huge number of visitors specially during weekends and public holidays. It is good idea to buy skip the line tickets online to save time and avoid hassle.
- Check for special cultural events, concerts, or any other programmes, and if possible plan a day accordingly.
- It is a good idea to take the paid shuttle to the English Garden as the long and straight walk can get very tiring.
- Different sections of the palace of Caserta have different opening hours. Check the timings carefully to plan and save yourself from disappointment.
